The Windsor Framework is nothing but a missed opportunity

It is my contention that our prime minister made the wrong decision concerning Northern Ireland.

Had he instead negotiated for our rejoining the European Economic Community, all the complicated legal documentation in the Windsor Framework would have been entirely unnecessary. At the same time, it would have removed the main plank of the SNP’s argument for leaving the UK, British industry would have rejoiced, and the stock market and the pound would have bounced.

So what I see is an opportunity missed. Our economic future still stays depressed and the looming threat of the UK breaking apart remains.

David Lee

Astor Close

Here we have the individually negotiated scaffolding of renewed associations and freedoms which we formerly enjoyed as members of the EU. How many more such arrangements will be necessary to partially restore just some of the more important benefits we once enjoyed as members?

We now know the Brexit proposal was founded on lies and it is still not fully implemented. Project Fear is proved correct in every area. There are no Brexit benefits. The widespread joy at a single repair is manifest, and there have to be many more.

Any doubt that the EU are anything other than willing negotiators is now out of the window. We can mess about for years or begin the process of rejoining the EU as opinion polls suggest the public favours. The sooner the repair, the smaller the job. It is clearly preferable to be within the EU as rule makers, than outside as rule takers. Among other things, it is a matter of sovereignty.

We need not confine ourselves to restoring some of the benefits. We can restore them all. The ball would appear to be in our court. It is unlikely that we, or any other member state, would repeat our self-harming mistake.

David Nelmes   

Newport

How good it was to see Keir Starmer once again sharing his vision of a Labour government securing the highest sustained growth in the G7.

His meeting with Rachel Reeves and business leaders on Tuesday yet again displayed Labour as a government ready to deliver good jobs, drive productivity, and make every family better off.

Geoffrey Brooking

Hampshire

Their new legislation correctly forbids marriage for those under the age of 18. But they still refuse to reinstate British nationality to Shamima Begum who was trafficked for marriage and sexual exploitation at the age of 15.

She deserves a fair trial in court.

Tim Sidaway

Hertfordshire

I read Sir Peter Westmacott’s column with interest and agreement. The lowest common denominator of discourse has been reached by Boris Johnson in his remarks. The Johnson era of “verbally anything goes” has reached its linguistic nadir and should be comprehensively called out.

The Boris factor is wearing very thin now and he should leave Rishi Sunak to do his level best to sort out the Northern Ireland protocol and mend meaningful bridges with the EU. Keeping the US and Joe Biden on side is very important and the prime minister doesn’t need any polluting of the waters from his predecessor.

Judith A. Daniels

Norfolk