Reader Letters

Remainers will need to do more than just campaign to rejoin the EU if we Brexit – they will need to help bring about democratic change. Since 2016, we have persisted with a major strategic blunder – to fail to explain and campaign that the referendum was a fakerendum. Instead, we campaigned against a hard […]

Readers discuss who or what was to blame for Labour’s defeat at the general election – and who can take the party forwards. Part of Labour’s failure is that no one (with a few exceptions) attempted to actually explain to the Labour-voting Leave supporters the consequences to them – to their jobs, livelihoods, economy, workers […]

Readers continue to have their say on the general election result and what the future holds for the Remain movement. I am an EU citizen living in the UK, having done so since 1998. I have no right to vote. I have a British/Italian child but had no say over the future of the country […]

A reader calls for the Remain movement to focus on rejoining instead. So Brexit, together with all of us, will now get done. We must not lose heart. For the first time we have a strong pro-EU movement in our country. Once the squabbling has stopped, we have infrastructure. Unlike Labour, we know what we […]

Despite more people voting against pro-Brexit parties than supporting them our voices have been ignored again, says ROGER HINDS. Tactical voting in the general election was so widespread, mostly over the issue of Brexit, that no political party can claim a mandate for its entire manifesto. That’s why proportional representation must be brought in so […]

While there was plenty of doom and gloom in this week’s mailbag, some said it wasn’t all bad for Remainers on election night. Silver linings time: ? The DUP are irrelevant again. ? The ERG have been neutered (unfortunately not literally) by the size of the Tory majority. ? Rees-Mogg is back in his box. […]

Readers are still waiting for a real letter to step forward to transform the UK and to undo the mistakes of past political leaders. Dear politicians: You have spoken so loudly I can’t hear you. You have created untrue narratives that cloud reality. You have bent words and tried to convince us that they have […]

With the general election campaign feeling a lot like the 1987 general election this reader has a message to voters. It feels quite like 1987 at the moment, so with apologies to Neil Kinnock… if Boris Johnson wins on December 12: I warn you not to work in the NHS. I warn you not to […]

Readers express their concerns about the performance of Labour and Lib Dems during the election campaign so far. Labour are currently fighting what is being called ‘the Brexit election’ by trying their best not to mention Brexit. The only possible benefit of the inevitable large Tory majority which will soon follow is that the party […]

Readers note the prime minister no longer talks about spending £350 million on the NHS, despite Brexit not happening yet. Boris Johnson is going to postpone the cut in corporation tax to release £6 billion for the NHS and other ‘priorities’. But wait. Was the NHS not supposed to be being funded by the “£350 […]

The polls are currently favouring Boris Johnson – but is it currently ignoring the impact of tactical voting? When the Remain vs Leave question is now asked in polls – either directly or in the form of “was Britain right or wrong to vote for Brexit?” – there is a clear majority of 6-10% in […]

Jo Swinson’s failure to find some common ground with the Labour leadership is a problem for those wanting to stop a Tory Brexit, says one reader. Full marks to Tim Walker, AKA Mandrake, for standing down in Canterbury in favour of the Remainer MP Rosie Duffield (“My troubled Canterbury tale”, TNE #169). It’s a pity […]

For weeks Remain has felt like the underdogs – but now the election provides a big opportunity. Readers believe it can win. We are the underdogs but with a series of big ifs this general election is winnable for Remain. If… Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP agree not to campaign in seats where […]

Despite Boris Johnson’s claims that the EU is inflexible, they have moved considerably to give him a deal. If this recent movement towards a deal turns out to have just one benefit, it will surely be to demolish once and for all the myth of the European Union’s wilful inflexibility. It seems obvious to me […]

Talks about a government of national unity have taken up too much time, argue readers. They claim MPs need to focus their efforts elsewhere. The fantasy of a government of national unity (GNU) is taking up far too much time on the Remain side. Jeremy Corbyn’s supporters will only accept him as leader; Amber Rudd […]

Readers give their views on the latest developments in Brexit talks. There are six clear reasons why no-deal Brexit will happen regardless of fuss, fight or furore; 1. There is no effective UK opposition. 2. The EU is not going to abandon Ireland. 3. Johnson has not/will not play by any rules so cannot be […]

Readers demand politicians stop listening to just the 17.4 million and start listening to the millions that didn’t vote for Brexit. It is quite impossible to keep count of the number of times pro-Brexit MPs have referred to the 17.4 million who voted to leave the EU. Do any of them give a toss for […]

Readers argue that, ahead of a general election, parliament must defend its actions to avoid Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson controlling the narrative. The dog-whistle slogans which the Cummings-Gove-Johnson triumvirate used to distort the case for Brexit are being lined up ready for the next election. By defining all parliamentary opposition as Remainers intent on […]

Readers give their verdict on the Lib Dems using conference to pledge to revoke Article 50 – while Labour used theirs to carry on sitting on the fence. MP Jess Phillips talks about traditional Labour voters who back Remain being “parked on the Lib Dems’ drive” because of Brexit, “and they will go into the […]

Boris Johnson is running out of options to find a way out of the Brexit mess – but he still has the option of a second referendum. An honourable man would resign his position, but Boris Johnson is not an honourable man. His next-best option is to rescue himself and help bring an end to […]

Readers consider the possibility of an election pact between Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party and the Conservatives. Having dealt with the moderates, it is Dominic Cummings’ feuds with fellow Brexiteers which will alienate the prime minister’s remaining parliamentary supporters and reduce the chances of a deal with the Brexit Party. Cummings has called the European Research […]

A general election would be a proxy vote on Brexit – but it still will not resolve Brexit. Readers call for a People’s Vote. Judging by the three little words flung at journalists recently by Dominic Cummings as he left the basement of his flat, “trust the people” looks likely to be a central theme […]

The government has been accused of hiding the ‘full picture’ in its release of Yellowhammer documents after Department of Transport files were leaked to the press. The contradicting reports suggest that Yellowhammer documents have significantly played down the impact of a no-deal Brexit on potential disruption to ports. The documents, which were seen by the […]

Readers have their say on the ‘stop the coup’ protests – and say that it is the perfect opportunity to win over Brexiteers. Last Saturday I protested at the ‘Stop The Coup’ march in Birmingham. However, unlike many I took the view that this wasn’t just about Brexit, it was about upholding the basic values […]

Following our article on the Eurotunnel in which a regular passenger called for a ‘quality rail experience’ some readers have lept to the defence. I enjoyed reading Victor Lewis-Smith’s article about his experiences with Eurotunnel (TNE #156), but it made me think that there must be two such services. The tunnel I use is nothing […]

Readers give their views on a the prospect of a trade deal with Donald Trump, and what it will bring to our food shelves. With no-deal getting closer and the necessity of a trade deal with America therefore growing, I detect a media push to persuade us that the infamous chlorinated chicken is not all […]

A reader suggests that the Remain movement is lacking someone who can control the news agenda in the same way Dominic Cummings does for the Brexit side. Benedict Cumberbatch as Dominic Cummings (centre) in Brexit: The Uncivil War. Picture: Channel 4/House Productions – Credit: Archant The Remain camp needs its own version of Dominic Cummings […]

Readers are distinctly unimpressed with Boris Johnson’s knowledge of history. Any attempt to impose a no-deal Brexit challenges the very legitimacy of government. Britain does not, of course, have a written constitution; but, as John Locke, the English philosopher and ‘father of liberalism’ pointed out: if a government acts in ways that are contrary to […]

Readers have their say on Jeremy Corbyn’s appeal to opposition parties to allow him to become a caretaker prime minister. A government of national unity to stop a no-deal Brexit will never happen if Jeremy Corbyn will not cede authority to the other parties, as well as his own Labour moderates. What’s needed as its […]

Readers react to the latest electioneering from Boris Johnson – and the lies to come from his cabinet. There is talk of Boris Johnson and his Brexiteer cabinet planning an enormously expensive advertising campaign to promote their choice of Brexit. I suggest that we preempt them with our own campaign, placing full-page advertisements in all […]

Readers give their opinions on Dominic Cummings, who has taken charge at 10 Downing Street. I should love Dominic Cummings. By winning the 2016 referendum for Vote Leave, he has greatly advanced the cause of an independent Scotland. Even better, by advocating no-deal if the other 27 EU countries remain defiant to the demands of […]

Readers give their initial reaction to the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election result – and have plenty of raise for the Remain pact. Well done, so encouraging to see the numbers. HUGE thank you to the Remain candidates who stood down so as not to split the vote. This victory is a tribute to their belief […]