We’re in a ‘bloody difficult’ situation over Brexit

Lynton Crosby must be thrilled that so many of the papers front-paged Theresa May’s “bloody difficult woman” line because it has echoes of the “Iron Lady” image he wants to foster on her behalf. He knows Brits love a good fight when we’re pitted as the underdog. But it could also backfire. Thatcher would be turning in her grave at the thought of leaving the EU’s single market and she was only able to negotiate good deals because we were inside the club.

If the lead negotiator for 27 united European nations is “ten times more sceptical” of a deal after meeting our “delusional” Prime Minister, we should all be very worried indeed.

Stefan Wickham

Oxted

No one underestimates that the Brexit negotiations are going to be rocky and perilous. No one also expects any side to emerge from such treacherous shuttle negotiations unscathed. There are over three million Europeans working in the UK whose fundamental rights are being compromised and are used as bargaining chips leaving them prey to anxiety, depression and all sorts of mental health ailments. Theresa May has described herself as a bloody tough woman, and I may add a squanderer of peoples’ rights to enjoy life, health, education and work unhindered. And let us not forget her Government’s policies of austerity, benefits cuts and welfare deprivation; all recipes for homelessness, joblessness, depression, a surge in knife crimes, domestic violence, poverty, hidden racism, discrimination, prejudices, bigotries, gang culture and food insecurity. The 8 June election is an opportunity to save this country from heading further toward a cliff.

Munjed Farid Al Qutob

London, NW2

The Liberal Democrats are attempting to dupe the UK public into voting for their so-called “soft” Brexit. This would effectively keep the UK in the European Union in everything but name.

Remaining in the single market would mean continuing to accept free movement, paying billions into Brussels’ coffers, bound by EU rules, yet having no place at the decision-making table. We would be worse off than when we were actual members.

Farron, Clegg and co are Euro fanatics and have no allegiance whatsoever to the British public. Don’t let them get away with it.

Jim Sokol

Banbury

I entirely agree with your editorial (We deserve to know the whole truth about Britain’s position in the Brexit negotiations, 1 May). The electorate is being treated with arrogance and disrespect by the likes of May, Davis, The Boris, IDS, Hunt, etc.

From the ridiculous bleating of “Strong and Stable” to the “Oh, it was all marvellous” comments about the Juncker meeting, via censored and secret “meetings with The People”. All this compounded by Bozza’s crass comments and Hunt’s platitudinous ignorance of the perilous state of our NHS.

Despite – or maybe as a result of – their supreme confidence in winning this election, I believe that the Conservative Party may have massively underestimated the people of this country and their objection to being taken for fools and disrespected in this way.

Peter Cole

Kirkwhelpington

Those who hope to revisit our Brexit decision, perhaps by a second referendum in a few years, or at least see a soft Brexit, miss an important point.

Brexit negotiations, not even yet fully begun, and discussion of this issue within the UK, are causing enormous strain and polarisation.

Relationships are already being damaged, between us and the EU 27, and between the people of the four nations of the UK. The process of harm and rupture could well be irreversible by the end of the year. Respect and friendships lost might not be rebuilt for a generation.

Only the upcoming elections offer a way to arrest the drift towards a depressing and argumentative future. The Tory bandwagon must be stopped, except in Scotland where the SNP bandwagon must be headed off. These parties, in some ways, are different sides of the same coin. They are shameless polarisers of opinion, and we should see through their unseemly tricks. The first chance to do this comes in the local and mayoral elections on Thursday 4 May.

John Gemmell

Birmingham