Sir, – Your letter writer David Harris of Dorset (December 31st), an avowed committed Brexiteer, urges us to "disagree a little better" on Brexit , given that "the truth can sometimes be dull and so it appears to be with Brexit".
It is entirely a matter for the British people that they would bring themselves to vote for a Brexit that would result in increased red tape for importers and exporters, in reduced national income, in a decimation of trade with the EU , the creaking of domestic supply chains following the exit of EU national lorry drivers, let alone the widespread shredding of international relations. The elixir of Brexit no doubt dulls the pain!
But did Mr Harris, in avidly voting for Brexit, fully take into account its impact on Ireland? And the potential adverse consequences on the Border and on the wider peace?
As a regular reader of your paper, he might benefit from reading Stephen Collins ("Brexit and the protocol will haunt Irish politics in 2022", Opinion & Analysis, December 31st) on how his government has nakedly used the NI Protocol to distract the British people from Boris Johnson's domestic woes. Yet again a Tory government using Ulster as a pawn.
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Mr Harris will no doubt be saddened to hear that most Irish people share Fintan O’Toole’s astute analysis of Brexit , and are bemused at how the British people could have been prevailed upon to vote for an act of such self-harm. Perhaps it was one of the first of the now many acts of duplicity committed on them by their current government. But that is their problem.
As for Ireland, I can assure Mr Harris, given the continuing negative impacts across the island, Brexit is far from the vista of dullness he espouses. – Yours, etc,
DAVID O’FLANAGAN,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.