Alastair Campbell’s incisive analysis of Brexit (Labour and Lib Dems can win big by calling out the Brexit mess, 11 May) provides some much needed hope to many, perhaps especially to the younger generation, who would overwhelmingly vote to rejoin the EU if there were another referendum. After the Boris Johnson era of false promises, the least the electorate deserves is for Brexit to be confronted directly and honestly.
There is no doubt that a Keir Starmer-led Labour government would improve the UK’s relationship with the EU and negotiate solutions to problems such as the urgent need to restore membership of the Horizon programme. However, such actions, although worthwhile, would not reverse the massive negative economic impact of being outside the single market.
The fundamental issue that the UK’s political leadership needs to address is that the longer we stay outside the single market, the longer our economic potential is seriously curtailed.
David Newens
Milton Keynes
• Alastair Campbell is wrong when he says: “Brexit was a decision made by one generation, in response to a campaign led by a now utterly discredited prime minister, Boris Johnson. The younger generations whose future has in so many ways been spoiled ... have every right to fight to have the decision revisited.” The decision was made by people of all generations who chose to believe the lies, and also by the thousands who failed to vote. Please stop trying to blame the older generation for the mess we find ourselves in.
Marilynne Gardiner
Blackwater, Hampshire
• I endorse Alastair Campbell’s view that Labour has no choice but to address the farrago of Brexit. My only confusion is his claim that Labour was impelled to collude in Boris Johnson’s escape trick at the end of 2019 and agree to an early election. It was this that allowed Johnson to wriggle free of the closing political jaws that would have trapped him into a second referendum.
Glyn Ford
Oldham, Greater Manchester
• Even as a remainer, you know you’ve lived too long when you read Alastair Campbell criticising the “gaslighting propaganda” of Brexiters. To regain a sense of proportion, leaving the EU may damage lives and livelihoods a little less than the invasion of Iraq.
Graham Mort
Carnforth, Lancashire
• Alastair Campbell doubts that “sorting out the Brexit mess, let alone rejoining the EU” is likely to happen soon, “or that it will be easy”. Not necessarily, were the UK government to remind itself that the fundamental reason for the EU’s creation was to put an end to centuries of war across Europe. This was to be achieved by closely integrating member states’ economies, so that for any one country to even rattle a sabre would be economic, social and even environmental suicide.
That objective was accomplished, because for over 60 years it went to plan. That is, until we decided to secede from the EU. That decision has fractured European economic integration and thereby ruptured European security.
Securing our readmission to the EU would be the single most important measure parliament could take to best ensure lasting peace within Europe. The EU would welcome us with open arms.
Neil Hornsby
Inverness
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