Sir, – A “soft exit” would mean that all existing deals would remain in place until replacements were completed. It would be relatively simple for the UK to join the the European Free Trade Association (Efta) or negotiate a British Efta-style deal and maintain access to the single market as well as the various existing Efta trade deals, while allowing the 95 per cent of UK businesses that do not trade with the EU freedom from swathes of bureaucracy.
Non-EU Turkey has a customs union with the EU and various other European countries, such as Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino, have customs unions and bespoke deals, while Efta countries like Norway, and European Economic Area countries like Iceland, all have access to the “single market” while not being in the EU.
The prime minister of non-EU Georgia has recently stated that it is working with the EU to include that country in the US-EU TTIP deal.
With the Remain side having lost the arguments on sovereignty and democracy, it is left with only the economy and “leaving the single market”. “Flexcit” addresses the economic issue while returning sovereignty to the UK, freeing 95 per cent of UK businesses from EU red tape, while allowing the UK to strike its own bilateral trade deals. – Yours, etc,
ALAN DAY,
Cookstown,
Co Tyrone.
Sir, – I am not one of the “loony right” but will be voting for Brexit in the referendum. The reasons why I will be voting that way involve democracy and sovereignty. Both of these are sadly lacking in the EU.
I also think that Irish Ministers should not be visiting the UK encouraging Irish citizens to vote to remain.
I first came to Ireland 45 years ago and while I can vote in elections, I cannot vote in referendums. I seem to remember two referendums in Ireland where Brussels did not like the results and you were pressurised into re-runs.
The EU is run by commissioners, most of whom are placemen or defeated politicians in their own countries.
The EU, especially Germany, wants the UK to remain because we are a large net contributor to the EU budget. We have a significant balance of payment deficit with the EU but are in surplus with the rest of the world. In spite of the fact that we are not in the euro, we contributed billions bailing out Greece and made significant loans to Ireland. Even though the UK is not in the euro, we are being subjected to the same bank regulations as those who are. As for the ultimate aim of a “United States of Europe”, I do not want to belong to it.
Whatever the result of the referendum, David Cameron is finished, the bulk of Tory MPs want out, and grassroot Tory associations are also opposed. He has stated that he will not fight the next general election. He will leave behind a damaged Conservative Party and a Labour Party led by a quasi-Marxist! Some future.
I forecast that within the next 10 years the European “project”will fail. – Yours, etc,
DA WILLIAMS,
Blessington,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – Whatever about the rights and wrongs of the arguments regarding Brexit, I have been impressed with the standard of debate so far. True, it has been intense and sometimes intransigent, but not malicious. – Yours, etc,
ANNE BYRNE,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – If the UK left the EU, does that mean we would get the old-style duty-free back? – Yours, etc,
DAVID DOYLE,
Goatstown,
Dublin 14.