Dear Sir
Readers can rest assured I do not intend to answer each of Mr Welsh’s points in his “A Vote on the Brexit Outcome?” letter. His letter is so long-winded and his arguments are not always presented coherently, so such a response would be of no use.
What might be useful would be to dispel some of the myths put out about the EU and its institutions. If anyone is interested in a more complete and objective description of how the EU works than the simplistic and one-sided views normally put out, I would recommend “The European Union: Citizen’s Guide” by Chris Bickerton, lecturer in Politics at Cambridge University. This short book makes it clear that, far from the EU imposing rules on any member state, each country is fully involved in decisions made. As a democratic process, I am sure it can be improved upon and made less bureaucratic, but that goes for any democratic process, including our own. Democracy may not be perfect, but I can’t think of a better form of government.
In response to Mr Haylett of Heighington, I did vote in the 1975 referendum. Perhaps I am one of the few over-60s to have voted remain again this time around, mostly because of the benefits available to young people. Over recent decades, Germany has worked extremely hard to atone for its wrongdoings in the 20th Century. The fact that it has a very successful economy is down to them having a long term industrial strategy and should be lauded, not despised. Belonging to the EU did not hinder Germany, because each member state is able to make its own decisions, so another myth – that the EU hinders national governments – can be dispelled.
Since the referendum, I have been on the look out for explanations from those who promote Brexit as to how, in practice, the UK will benefit.
Apart from the unenlightening “taking back control” etc, I’ve found very little. What is apparent is that the likes of Davis, Fox, Johnson and Rees-Mogg are rich enough not to ever have to suffer from job losses which might result from Brexit. I wonder what their motives really are?
Yours faithfully
Eileen Brewis