Whatever it was that the electorate voted for in the 2016 Referendum, it was certainly not the convoluted, detailed negotiations which it is clear are necessary in order to annul or revise the binding treaties between the UK and other states.

Most voters will now be aware that they were sold a pig in a poke by the politicians supporting the referendum. There can be no doubt that the politicians concerned were well aware of the prodigious research, the acrimonious debate and time-consuming negotiations which the deadlined, voted decision would involve.

They knew, on the basis of schisms in their parties, the insoluble bitter divisions that would be likely to be caused by requiring a public In/Out vote.

MPs know where their constituents stand. There is no need for referendums in our Parliamentary democracy. It is to be hoped that this ‘Great EU Referendum of 2016-2019 turns out to be the ‘referendum to end all referendums’ in the UK.

Maurice Vassie,

Deighton,`York

Every Brexit cloud has a silver lining

I do believe that the continuing strength of our economy might well be due to some extent to Brexit.

Our wealth creators have largely been relieved of the burdens normally imposed by the ruling echelons of our government.

As Parliament, senior civil servants, business nabobs, quango heads, vice-chancellors and countless others in the Brussels gravy train try to preserve their benefits their attention has been diverted from their usual self-serving, ineffectual pretence of running the country.

Truly every cloud has a silver lining.

A V Martin,

Westfield Close,

Wigginton, York