Sir, – Robert Chester (May 24th) is, unfortunately, mistaken. The lack of Ukip MPs has much to do with the "first past the post" system and little to do with the appetite for far-right policies here in the UK. At last year's general election Ukip received just short of four million votes, 12.6 per cent of total votes cast, making it the third largest party by voter numbers. Rather sizeable indeed.
At the latest count opinion polls put the “Leave” side on 40 per cent. Sadly there is no “smokescreen”, rather a looming wall of fire. – Yours, etc,
EOIN McDOWELL,
Bournemouth, Dorset.
A chara, – I presume that Lord Kilclooney's argument (May 24th), which invokes Britain's economic interests in Ireland as a justification for UK ministers to campaign in an Irish referendum, works both ways? If so, I am in complete agreement.
Furthermore, based on his use of the UK’s impressive contribution to the EU budget as further justification for the British taxpayer’s interest in Irish politics, I presume that Lord Kilclooney would also welcome the involvement of ministers of the German federal government, by far the largest net contributor to the EU budget, in the Brexit referendum debate.
Of course, in the run-up to major referendums, it can be very tempting to suggest that a person’s right to speak out can be linked to however many billions of euro their country sends to or receives from Brussels (or any other nation’s capital). Thankfully, as Lord Kilclooney affirms, the fact remains that each and every denizen of these shared isles, whether in their public or private capacity, has the right to campaign for whichever cause directly or indirectly concerns them. If every minister of the UK government were to descend on Ireland to tell us how they feel we should vote (as is, of course, their right), at the end of the day, the outcome of that vote would remain our sovereign decision. So it shall be in the UK on June 23rd, and nothing that Enda Kenny does or says alters that fact. – Is mise,
RORY CROTTY,
Dúglas, Corcaigh.
Sir, – It is certain that a “Leave” vote in the British EU referendum will not end trade with Europe. Trade is in the human DNA. It is the reason the human race survives. Since the beginning, humans have worked, produced and traded for the things they need to sustain themselves and make their lives more secure, comfortable and fulfilled. Were not Britain’s east coast ports, facing the continent, the most prosperous towns in the Middle Ages?
Humankind’s innate tendency to trade will continue whether part of a political grouping, like the EU, or not. Only politics would stop this. – Yours, etc,
GEOFF NAYLOR,
Winchester, Hampshire.