Leaving still the correct course

It is clear that Mr Jenkins is full of passion on the subject, but he is also inaccurate and misinformed.

On the subject of financial forecasts, these are very seldom accurate, as indeed are forecasts of any kind, so don’t take those figures as firm. They could be right but they’re probably not.

I don’t regard Daniel Kawczynski, (or John Redwood and Jacob Rees-Mogg, mentioned later) as being hard right MPs.

Not being in the Schengen Agreement is not the same as having control of our borders.

Our MEPs do vote on EU rules but seldom agree amongst themselves as to which particular path to take. Agreeing to exempt the UK from EU proposals is unusual but not unknown. I think they have gone along with most of it because it is reasonable, although some of it is nonsense and/or irrelevant.

The UK negotiated a rebate on its contributions many years ago but is still the second highest net contributor in that we receive a small percentage of what we send back again. This does not mean we gain financially as a nation, we give much more.

The Brexit dividend will not arrive whilst we are still members of the organisation, although I understand that extra funds have been allocated to the NHS recently.

Trade deals should be easier when they are agreements between two independent countries rather than with a bloc of 28 nations having to agree before negotiations start with another country.

Financial advisers will generally recommend spreading risk, I believe.

Much of the Irish border problem has been invented and exaggerated for other political reasons. Every proposal is rejected by one side or the other. I know too little about it to be able to offer any solution. You say that 37 per cent of the electorate voted to leave, so fewer than 37 per cent voted to stay. I don’t know the figures but I’m prepared to accept them.

After an election the population changes, circumstances change, opinions change but that doesn’t mean we have another election immediately, although the EU like to have repeated elections until the people return the answer they want. Then the elections stop.

The many other problems faced by the UK have been seemingly downgraded since the referendum but this is in no small part down to the media going for the easy story. Too often important news items are downplayed or ignored because someone on one side or the other has said something foolish.

I am old, I voted leave and I still believe that to be the correct course. In conclusion, Mr Jenkins, I have been prompted to write this letter because we share the same surname and initial. I didn’t want anyone who knows me to think your opinions are mine.

Chris Jenkins, Shrewsbury