Brexit Party MEPs must refuse to take up their seats in the EU parliament – like Sinn Fein in Westminster

Here’s a question: do the 29 newly elected Brexit MEPs believe that they will be attending the European parliament representing Britain as honest brokers? I think not. They should decline to take up their MEP seats in the same way that Sinn Fein does not take up its Westminster seats as a matter of protest. This dates from the time the first woman to be elected to Westminster in 1918, Irish citizen Constance Markievicz, did not take up her seat along with with other Sinn Fein members who had been elected. Instead, they formed the first Irish government, Dail Eireann.

Mr Farage and co would be sending a more honest and powerful message to Leave supporters by not taking up their seats in Brussels. The European parliament would be better off without their contributions and could focus on political discourse with the remaining 44 British MEPs who do want to be part of the EU political bloc. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Alison Hackett
Dun Laoghaire

Some say another referendum is essential: we were misled in 2016. Others say another referendum would undermine democracy: a democratic decision has already been taken. Both sides claim to uphold democracy. The way to settle this is to ask people a simple question: “Do you want another Brexit referendum?” A referendum about a referendum may sound odd but it’s a logical solution. Only the people as a whole can decide what is democratic.

If another Brexit referendum proves to be undemocratic, then politicians should stop seeking one. People have had enough and we should leave without further delay. Otherwise an In/Out referendum will either end the current shambles or point the way forward. This time supplementary questions are needed such as, “If you wish to leave the EU would you accept remaining in the customs union?”. The framing of these questions would obviously be contentious, but political parties need not tear themselves apart over questions the people can answer.

Andrew Smith
Marshbrook, Shropshire​

Thank you Jon Stone for putting the case for HS2 so clearly and coherently. It is needed, work has started, let’s just get on with it.

Bob Fennell
Bromley

Nice to see an intelligent appraisal of the reasons for and benefits of HS2.

I must point out that it does not go to Nottingham. The 19 minutes referred to takes you to Toton, roughly halfway between Derby and Nottingham, and will take another 20 minutes to either city, if and when a connecting service is provided.

Doug Flack
Derby

Liverpool and Spurs fans in their thousands will have flown to Madrid for the Champions League Final. Am I being a killjoy in suggesting that, in these days of climate awareness, it would have been better to have held the match closer to home?

Patrick Cosgrove
Bucknell, Shropshire

Having realised that the Cricket World Cup is only available to a limited number of pay-per-view subscribers, I wonder if any World Cup can be defined as such if most of the world cannot watch it.

Colin Burke
Manchester