I LAUGHED when advised by David Armitage to get a grip on reality regarding Brexit (Letters, July 22). Reality isn’t defined by public opinion but by verifiable facts.
When Labour declare that they’ll work to retain access to the Single Market, the reality is that every nation on earth has access to the EU Single Market as long as they produce goods or services that comply with EU regulations.
In other words, products have to be safe, free from dangerous chemicals, made without the use of child labour, not harmful to the environment etc.
Therefore retaining access to the Single Market will not be a victory or mark of successful negotiation.
Similarly, when Tories talk about taking back control of our borders, the facts are that the UK has always had the right to refuse employment benefits, housing benefits, free healthcare to migrants from other EU nations.
Go to Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, France etc and try to claim these benefits and see how far you get.
The UK government has chosen not to enact those rights, just as it has chosen not to have ID cards or to keep records of who enters the country.
If Brexit happens we’ll all finally get a grip on reality.
Christian Vassie, Blake Court, Wheldrake, York
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