Sir, – I note that sterling rallied after Boris Johnson declared his intention not to seek the leadership of the Conservative Party. I am reminded of a quotation attributed to Oscar Wilde: “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go”. – Yours, etc,
NIALL O’NEILL,
Dundrum,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – Given Boris Johnson’s extraordinary exit yesterday from the Tory party’s leadership race, it is not inconceivable that had he been elected prime minister, his first words to the House of Commons would have been: “Hullo, yes, well, I admit it. I’m a toff, and I’m off! Cheerio! Best of luck. Ha, ha!” – Yours, etc,
IVOR SHORTS,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – Any proposed referendum on Ireland’s membership of the EU must surely be called Fecksit. – Your, etc,
RONAN McDERMOTT,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – Why did Boris have to want to be prime minister? Why could he not have wanted to be a train driver like every other little boy? – Yours, etc,
PN CORISH,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – What is it about “liberal” commentators who rightly champion and insist on, among other things, freedom of speech and universal suffrage, until that is there is a change in society that challenges their way of thinking or their way of life?
Since the Brexit outcome, commentators have drawn attention to the age of the voters and their social background. Throughout the Brexit campaign all the main political parties in the United Kingdom – from the Conservatives to Sinn Féin – recommended a Remain vote, as too did most of the UK business community and the trade unions. In addition, the UK electorate was urged by the Commonwealth countries and a host of foreign leaders, from Barack Obama to Enda Kenny, to remain in the European Union. Regardless of all this "sound advice", UK citizens used their democratic right and voted to leave the EU.
Over 33 million people voted. Of these, I suspect millions over the age of 50 voted to remain and that millions of people under the age 50 voted to leave. The same would apply to working class voters and middle class voters and people with white skin and dark skin and the aristocracy too. Also, I suspect there were many reasons as to why people voted the way they did, irrespective of their age, class or ethnic background. What a great display of democracy in action.
Instead of looking for reasons or ways to re-run the ballot, and in the process undermine democracy, we should admire British democracy regardless of the outcome.
By the way, Britain will survive, Ireland will survive and the Earth will continue to orbit the sun. – Yours, etc,
DES HUGHES,
Donaghmede,
Dublin 13.
Sir, – Our friends in the UK have been fed a narrative of negativity towards Europe by their media and politicians for 30 years.
We in Ireland have much to learn from neighbours in the UK. Let us not hide behind the EU and blame them for the non-cancellation of water charges, for example.
Let's learn from their media issues. It was interesting to read Mrs Gove's email ascribing significant power to Rupert Murdoch and Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre. It was a cruel reflection of the UK's political reality. Perhaps it is time to reflect on our media ownership, its influence and the dangers of such when combined with weak government.
The poor in our society are the pawns in all this, just as some believe the poor in the UK were hoodwinked into a vote that was not in their interest. We need to mind our democracy. – Yours, etc,
FRANK CRONIN,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin
Sir, – According to Prof Roy Foster, anti-intellectualism and bad leadership are to blame for the Leave victory ("Britain consigned to margins by the 'stupid party'", News Agenda, June 27th). He writes that "the correlation between areas with a high concentration of university graduates, and a vote for Europe, is very striking". He then mentions that Garret FitzGerald's mother was of the view that "uneducated" people, ie those without at least a 2.1 university degree, did not deserve the vote.
He neglects to point out that some of the areas with the most highly educated young people had lower turnouts than some of the areas of greatest deprivation in northern England. Perhaps the Brexit result was a case of clever stupid trumping stupid clever? – Yours, etc,
KARL MARTIN, BA (Pass),
Bayside,
Dublin 13
Sir, – I think we can now add “Doing a Boris” to the lexicon – snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, but not before destroying the very prize for which one was fighting. – Yours, etc,
BREFFNÍ LENNON,
Glanworth,
Co Cork.
Sir, – Boris Johnson – a latter-day Grand Old Duke of York, who led his army of supporters up to the polling booth on the top of the hill, and when his devoted disciples voted the way he exhorted them to, he marched them back down and abandoned them! Yours, etc,
PAUL DELANEY,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – I know that the vast majority of the Irish public does not support those letter-writers who claim to be speaking on behalf of the majority of the public. On behalf of all my supporters, please stop. – Yours, etc,
JOHN ROGERS,
Rathowen,
Co Westmeath.
Sir, – Brexhausted. – Yours, etc,
DAVID O’DONOGHUE,
Reykjavik.