No jeopardy if we leave

JANET Davies asks for one advantage of coming out of the EU (Letters, October 31, ‘Brexit was a bad decision’).

When I initially wrote my letter suggesting that Parliament should respect the wishes of the electorate in the referendum (Letters, April 11, ‘Votes ignored’) this seems to have motivated Janet Davies to become a serial correspondent to this paper over the past months, I mentioned that coming out of the EU would give us back the independence that two world wars were fought over. This is particularly relevant at this time of year.

I voted to join the Common Market even though it meant turning our backs on our Commonwealth and World markets, but I did not vote for what has escalated from the Common Market, namely a virtual federal republic of Europe! We are British and as such value our sovereignty, the ability to govern ourselves, make our own laws and our own decisions including who we want to trade with.

There will no doubt be teething troubles until the new relationship beds down. Much has been made of the necessity to have a trade agreement. If we have a product (including intellectual products) that other countries want to buy or use, surely, we would not refuse the business! Why do we need a trade agreement? If Germany wants to sell its BMWs and Mercedes or France its Renaults or Citroens to us, why should there be a need for a formal agreement? Do we need an agreement to exchange mutually beneficial information between countries on security, criminal activities, health or climate change all of which have been suggested by Remainers to be in jeopardy if we leave?

The alternative, if we stay in EU is that we would be subject to government by a committee formed by 27 countries all with their own agendas and with a higher priority than what the UK wants or needs. This would continue at a huge financial cost to us, without, as has been proven in the past, the apparent ability to audit accounts*. Coming out of the EU doesn’t mean we shall become potential enemies … just independent neighbours!

Eric Sydenham, Mount Pleasant, Tadley.