Now I want my country back...

"I want my country back" is a refrain frequently heard during the past three months by the Leave campaign. Yesterday I thought I was part of a progressive, forward-thinking, tolerant country that wanted to be a part of something bigger. Now I find that the majority of my fellow citizens prefer a country that cannot see beyond its borders, is xenophobic and looks backwards to mythical utopia from the past. I have learnt that some politicians will lie until the lie becomes the accepted truth, and that some will do anything and say anything to achieve high office. The fate of the country is worth less than their naked ambition. Perhaps I was very naive to expect better, but I did, so please can I have my country back.

Brian Dalton
Sheffield

There is now a contradiction between the will of the people and the majority of MPs: the people want to leave the EU while the MPs, elected only last year, support membership with the EU. Long and complex exit negotiations require a government which believes in their goal, supported by a majority of MPs. The only way to achieve this is by the earliest possible general election, with a transitional government led by a caretaker Prime Minister – Theresa May comes to mind. Otherwise, existing pro-EU Conservative MPs would be asked to pass on the nod measures for disengagement which go against their political conscience.

In short, despite the holding of a referendum, Parliament is still the supreme authority which must endorse and act on the referendum result.

At this point, the clumsy and ultimately undemocratic first-past-the-post electoral system comes into the picture. Without special steps being taken, a new House of Commons would almost certainly still contain an anti-Brexit majority. To prevent this and resolve the contradiction, there would need to be an electoral pact between the Conservative party and Ukip so that pro-Brexit candidates did not stand against each other (assisted, no doubt, by the resignation or de-selection of quite a lot of pro-EU Conservatives). The subsequent general election should result in a pro-Brexit Commons, providing a Con-Ukip alliance government, including Nigel Farage and other Ukip members, for whom this outcome is a triumph and a vindication.

If it does not produce that result, a pro-EU majority would be fully justified in putting a motion of confidence to the new House on its first meeting, “noting” the referendum result but not proceeding to withdraw British membership. Parliament remains the supreme authority.

Nicolas Hawkes
Yorkshire

Why do we have to suffer the sight of Farage on our newspaper and the sound of his ranting on the BBC? He was not the recognised leader of the Leave campaign, nor has he been elected to the House of Commons. Thus he can play no part in government. May he disappear without trace along with his bigotry and xenophobia.

Linda Williams
Dover

David Cameron has demonstrated a major lack in capacity for strategic thinking. During his career as Prime Minister, his decision to hold a referendum on our membership of the EU was an early one. He lacks an ability for strategy. Flying by the seat of your pants may be OK at Prime Minister's Questions, but it’s useless for setting goals 10 years ahead. Thus when he promised a referendum to get himself out of a difficulty with the right wing Eurosceptic elements in his party, two parliaments ago, today's result was always a strong possibility.

The worst result has come to pass. Let's hope we can preserve the legislation protecting our wildlife and habitats, the workplace protections and regulations, planning regulations (EIA & SEA directives), pollution legislation, and so on. that industrialists would have us believe are merely there to prevent them making a bigger profit. Modern EU directives embody the strategic thinking intrinsic in EU legislation. 'The polluter pays' principle is another concept at the heart of EU environmental guidance. We would do well to transfer these ideas over to our own future law-making.

I'm not a supporter of the SNP and I voted to remain part of the UK in the Scottish referendum, but if there is another referendum in Scotland I will vote for independence. I would rather be independent than stay part of an inward-thinking Little England. Now that England has chosen to leave, there will be major inward investment opportunities for firms that want to stay in the EU. Perhaps Nissan et al will consider transferring their activities to Scotland, which offers a highly educated, skilled workforce – unlike England, which will be outside the single market.

John P
Scotland

After racking my brains to find any good news in the referendum result, I have finally found the silver lining: English football will no longer be humiliated in Europe.

David Hill
Elsenham

A historic day indeed. I never thought I would see Cameron and Osborne outdone in the politics of fear and greed.

Steve Mainwaring
Bath