Sir, - May I have the temerity to postulate this suggestion for the consideration of the experts: that England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales should leave the EU and join or seek to join the US and Canada in a similar association. Perhaps Australia and New Zealand could also be invited to join.
There are also up to 20 or so smaller English-speaking island states scattered mostly around the Caribbean and the South Pacific.
The advantages of this are many and varied: we would have a common language and the diaspora of the home countries can be found almost exclusively in the above named countries.
We have little in common with Europe, not to mention Eastern Europe, and, let's face it, the people of the "home countries" are not the greatest linguists in the world. Distances should be no great problem as we all know that the British Empire lasted longer than any other empires and the Commonwealth - and also this before the bicycle or aircraft were invented.
It should not be beyond the wit of man to work out any difficulties that may arise, and the Skibbereen Eagle could always be relied upon to keep its eye on Uncle Sam.
Perhaps the North of Ireland problem would be a thing of the past or at least we could shift responsibility. We are good at that sort of thing! - Yours, etc.,
Oliver Nulty, Clare Street, Dublin 2.