Sir, – Natasha Browne (July 4th) is right when she says that the decision of the British think tank Policy Exchange to advise Ireland to follow the UK out of the EU demonstrates "the British superiority complex" in feeling they can determine the fate of this country.
The think tank advises that Ireland should consider leaving the EU. It is not quoted as saying we should rejoin the UK but the implication is clear.
After centuries of colonial exploitation, we still have to put up with the neighbouring former imperial power telling us what to do – or else.
It wants us to follow it in tearing up the agreement it signed with its fellow European citizens to join the EU.
The EU represents the cooperation of nearly 30 European democracies in matters of mutual interest. It replaces centuries of imperial and totalitarian conflict in Europe and is the most advanced example of such cooperation in the world.
All Ireland can say to the UK in reply is no, we will not tear up that agreement.
But we should also respectfully suggest that the UK should reverse what the UK’s own think tank defines as the “massively damaging” decision to tear it up. – Yours, etc,
A LEAVY,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.
Sir, – If we are being exhorted to think the unthinkable and contemplate our departure from the EU in Britain’s wake, why stop there?
Why not think the really unthinkable and contemplate applying to rejoin the UK? – Yours, etc,
PN CORISH,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – I think most card players would agree that a golden rule is to try and hold on to your best cards for as long as possible.
If the Brexit negotiations could be compared to a card game, it would seem to me that Britain played a good card (fishing rights) very early and, I may add, a bit desperately. – Yours, etc,
TERRY CONNAUGHTON,
Sucre,
Bolivia.