• I KNEW perfectly well the options on voting to leave the EU and the leave campaign was clear, that leaving the single market and customs union would happen.

It is not true that no-deal has only been discussed now as Theresa May early on said it would be better to have no deal than a bad deal.

The only problem is that no-deal was not on the table at the time and preparations were not sufficient. It is quite clear access to the single market will be necessary for both sides after leaving as that is of mutual benefit.

As for Michael Romberg’s assertion that the EU does not rerun referendums, (We are also culturally part of Europe, August 8), Denmark over the Maastricht treaty voted in 1992 and again in 1993, Ireland voted in 2001 and 2002 over the treaty of Nice and 2008 and 2009 over the Lisbon treaty.

The first votes were against so were held again to get the “right result”. Of nine referendums held on EU-related matters, four were rerun and three ignored, including the vote on the constitution in France and Holland, which I note Mr Romberg did not mention in his letter.

The EU may not be able to legally stop the UK leaving, but they intend to make it as hard as possible, not the actions of a club or friendly organisation. It shows a lack of confidence if they have to try to deter any one else doing the same.

I accept the EU was never just about trade, but an EU army would be an expensive rival to Nato, the best guarantor of peace, something the French are not that keen on and would lead to the US becoming more isolationist, which is concerning at present.

The political goals of the EU were never spelled out when we joined and were deliberately played down so as not to alarm public opinion. They are clearer all the time now a federal superstate is its goal.

Naturally we are part of the culture of Europe but each country has its own. There is no collective European culture. We have ties of language and culture across the world.

I am not turning my back on Europe or its peoples only the bureaucratic institution the EU.

PAUL BONNY
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