Reader Letters

Readers react to Priti Patel’s new points-based immigration system proposals. My Hungarian mate Ferenc sees a bright future for gangmasters under our new ugly immigration laws. So you can stay in the UK for six months but you’re not allowed to work. That’s really going to stop low-paid illegal work in the unregulated economy! Arrive […]

Without a change in electoral system the big parties are doomed to keep repeating the same mistakes with their leaders. In Meg Russell’s insightful article (“Why grassroots members shouldn’t choose party leaders”), she says of the move away from MP-only selections, “Labour was the first party to diverge from this… in 1981”. However, the 1976 […]

Readers respond to claims that it would be wrong for Remainers to campaign for associate EU citizenship. Mark Bates might be missing the point of associate EU citizenship (TNE #182). It would not and could not be an easy passage to living and collecting our pensions abroad. What it could do would be to show […]

Dominic Cummings stands for everything that he advocated the country rejecting, writes a reader. Dominic Cummings is the epitome of everything he advocated rejecting, all the reasons he fabricated for leaving the EU. The ‘unelected Eurocrats’ spin was a lie; instead, decisions on our futures are now actually being made by faceless, unaccountable figures, not […]

A reader claims that the media narrative on Brexit will not change even if it fails to be a success. It isn’t a matter of wanting leaving the EU to be a success or not. Even if the process seems to be an objective failure it is likely the tabloid press will try to frame […]

One reader claims associate EU citizenship is simply Remain cakeism. I don’t see how associate EU citizenship for UK individuals will work, or why it should work. The EU is a noble idea of freedom for all peoples. Its impact and ambition must not be reduced to being an easy passage to living and collecting […]

Readers dispute a recent article in which baby boomers are blamed for Brexit. Here some of those in that demographic have their say. Francis Beckett’s article (“Blame us baby boomers for Brexit”) was insulting. I am sick of being told my generation had it so good and easy and are responsible for leaving the EU. […]

A Remainer explains what happened when he visited Parliament Square as Brexiteers celebrated on January 31st. I couldn’t resist going to the pro-Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square. At the St Stephens Tavern I was engaged by Steve and his two mates from Sunderland. I find it difficult to understand how they will benefit from Brexit. […]

Readers have a mixed reaction to an opinion column from a Brexit Party official telling Remainers to be more measured over a 50p Brexit coin. A bong reverberates for about 15 seconds; a coin will be around for scores, perhaps hundreds of years. Mr Towler, for many the new coin is a permanent reminder of […]

Readers are split over what action Remainers should take next on Brexit. I couldn’t disagree more with Matt Kelly’s injunction to avoid “I told you so” (“Remain must become something bigger”). We now live in a post-truth nightmare. To not throw every single example of the predictions of “Project Fear” coming true back in the […]

Remember when the chancellor once claimed that Britain is better off in the single market? Are all the former Remainers now in Johnson’s cabinet as shockingly fickle as Sajid Javid? As David Cameron’s business secretary, and therefore well-placed to know all the facts, he said in the 2016 referendum campaign: “I still believe that Britain […]

Readers question the decision for politicians to centre their Brexit celebrations around London. If the Brexiters want a bell-ringing party, why don’t they hold it in Grimsby, Sunderland, Stoke etc rather than the cradle of the metropolitan elite? I suspect we know the answer: now Johnson and Farage have got what they wanted out of […]

One reader has a suggestion for anyone feeling dispirited ahead of Brexit day on January 31st Yesterday, in driving rain and buffeting wind, I drove six miles home in deep gloom, my default position since December 12. I switched on the car radio and caught the last movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony – the Ode […]

Readers respond to an article suggesting a citizens’ assemblies could help pave the way to rejoining the European Union. Although I have the greatest respect for AC Grayling and cannot fault his analysis of the present political situation, nevertheless I find his proposed solution an unbelievably rosy response to it. “Imagine the effect of assemblies […]

Readers have their say on our special edition of The New European asking what’s next for the pro-European movement. While James Ball’s assessment of what happens next to the ‘Remain coalition’ is balanced and very sensible, it leaves out the most important – but unpredictable – element. Michael White, in his weekly assessment, touches upon […]

In response to Michael Haldane’s demand for another pro-EU march. This is far too short notice. It’s going to work far better to march on June 23, to protest the loss of our EU rights. Plenty of time to prepare for a big march, plenty of time to respond to what’s unfolding. Julian Skidmore Birmingham […]

Readers believe the Australian fires are a sign that more focus needs to go on climate change – and that Remainers can play a part in the fight. For over three years now the UK has, in effect, fiddled while Rome burned with endless talk about deals and borders and “taking back control”. Ignoring the […]

Readers argue that there needs to be political reform to bring about a fairer society. There is really no point in talking about regrouping, rebuilding, or mending our broken politics and country until we get rid of one of the main causes of it: the first past the post system. It effectively amplifies the front-running […]

Readers respond to Andrew Adonis’ call for the Lib Dems to disband and to join the Labour Party. Andrew Adonis asks whether the Liberal Democrats now have a reason to exist. The answer is plain: now more than ever. It may pain him to acknowledge the fact, but the Lib Dems (and Liberal Party before […]

With Zac Goldsmith, Nicky Morgan and Iain Duncan-Smith all receiving awards in the last month one reader believes there was an oversight in the list. Despite having read every name on the New Year honours list twice, I was amazed not to see the words “Chris Grayling” amongst the luminaries. Surely, being the worst transport […]

A reader has called for Remainers to march again to show they have not given up the fight to stop Brexit. I seriously hope that some sort of pro-EU march will take place (in London and/or elsewhere) on Saturday, February 1. It might now seem pointless to march for a People’s Vote or to stop […]

Boris Johnson wants to ‘reunite the country’ as he inflicts Brexit on us all – but what could it entail? Boris Johnson says that he wishes to reunite the country. I for one have a number of conditions before I would even consider the possibility. Here is a selection: – Legislation in 2020 to make […]

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. […]