ES Views: Government should heed the leaked Brexit papers

It is increasingly evident that a hard Brexit would be the worst possible course for the UK to take — economically, socially and politically. However, hardline Brexiteers continue to choose to ignore these signs and the fact that nobody voted for this outcome.

Apart from the negative economic forecasts, which surely cannot all be dismissed as scaremongering, we will be a lot worse off. We will lose European research grants and are bound to experience staff shortages in the NHS as workers from Europe feel neither secure nor welcome here.

There are also concerns about companies threatening to move abroad and we still have the Irish border to resolve, as well as securing the rights of EU citizens who have settled here for many years and are worried about their citizenship.

Surely all of these factors indicate that we need a U-turn on Brexit — and fast.
Tanya Firth

Isn't it obvious by now that we are heading for a soft Brexit? If we want unrestricted access to the single market we must continue to pay into EU coffers.

The Government’s own studies show that the UK will be disadvantaged by every realistic Brexit scenario. Leaving the customs union will make a hard border with the Republic of Ireland inevitable and British industry cannot afford to have its pan-European supply chains disrupted.

The dream of Britain standing independent and trading freely across the globe was always based on nostalgia rather than any evidence-based judgement. Far from “taking back control” it seems we will surrender it.
Rohan Moorthy
​

The Prime Minister and Brexit Secretary David Davis have made rapid progress in securing agreement among the EU-27 for Britain to have a transition period until December 2020. This is vital to safeguarding British jobs and shows that they have listened to our business people, farmers and the unions.

However, Tory MPs have said that Britain would lose its voice and its vote during the transition period and could not defend the national interest. Mrs May should therefore give notice to revoke Article 50 until a date that matches the end of the transition period. Surely the EU couldn’t refuse such a sensible and reasonable request?
Nicolas Maclean

Hopefully the top secret paper suggesting all Brexit scenarios will be harmful to the economy, leaked to BuzzFeed, will not reach the desk of an impartial GCSE economics marker. The lack of fact-based content alone would ensure this document would be awarded official “unclassified” status.
Paul Langtry

Claire Kober’s resignation as council leader will be a moment of relief for many people in Haringey.

The circumstances that brought it about have very little to do with internal Labour Party factionalism and much to do with what happens when an overbearing form of leadership, with a disdainful tin ear turned towards those it is supposed to represent, gets its comeuppance.

Achieving Kober’s resignation was the easy part. Now there is work to be done by all residents in Haringey to set about improving the civic health and community engagement of our borough, to build a civil, safe and welcoming place where we can all thrive, whether we were born here or arrived yesterday.

We need the next administration — whatever its exact make-up — to be open and responsive to community needs, to care about and do its utmost for all people, and to stand in solidarity with residents against the cruel policies of central government which target the poorest and most vulnerable in our midst.
Lucy Nabijou, Haringey Welcome

While it is good to hear Transport for London will increase evening peak services on the Northern line, this will not address the critical levels of overcrowding in the morning.

The crush on the Northern line is driven by under-investment in other forms of public transport such as buses, where TfL cancelled plans to extend the 155 route to Moorgate via Blackfriars, which would have provided a feasible alternative for hundreds of passengers.

Bus services are being reduced in frequency while the potential of Overground stations as alternatives to the Tube are not being championed. Even if the Mayor does not have full control, that does not prevent his lobbying for improvements.

A reticent transport policy, whether at local or national level, gets commuter needs precisely nowhere. There has to be more drive on rail and bus services by City Hall to take the pressure off the Tube.
Nick Biskinis

The logic is simple; under the law, you are an adult from 18. This is when you bear full responsibility for your actions and face adult sentencing under the justice system.

If 16-year-olds are allowed the vote, an anomaly would arise where minors could vote on laws that wouldn’t apply to them until they reach 18. The only way to resolve this would be to lower the age of legal responsibility to 16, although I doubt whether Labour would advocate this.
George Paterson

It would appear that the Government thinks 16-year-olds are not mature or responsible enough to vote. Given that Malala Yousafzai became the youngest person to ever receive a Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17, I wonder if she might dispute its thinking on this matter?
Chris Key

Mark Sinclair, [Letters, January 30] is wrong to point out that a special case for the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland is incompatible with leaving the EU. The border already is a special case; the UK is outside the Schengen zone so border checks should be in place yet there are none.

It is down to whether there is a will to find a solution or whether one or both parties want to make mischief from it. I think the Republic is trying to ingratiate itself with its masters in Brussels by making the border a point of contention.
Dr David Cottam

I am a fan of the BBC, with its excellent news coverage and current affairs programmes. I have read the director-general Tony Hall’s plan to solve the gender pay gap but he should consider pensioning off some of the older male presenters, whose styles have become stale. They should make way for younger female presenters to provide a fresher image and style.
John Brocklebank