I AM afraid that there are still a lot of people who are completely deluded about the strength of our economy.

The reason most multinational companies - Airbus, Honda etc - are based in the UK is because, and only because, we are in the EU single market. If we leave, they will slowly start relocating to other EU countries such as Romania.

There was a report recently that one in three small and medium-sized companies that export to the EU (our main market) plan to relocate to mainland EU as they cannot afford the large tariffs that will apply to their goods outside the EU single market.

Interestingly, I have never heard one no deal Brexiteer ever address the issue of the cost of high export tariffs for businesses and farms.

The EU has just finalised a trade deal with Japan, making the EU the largest market in the world. I can’t now see Japan being especially keen to secure a trade deal with us. I am not being unpatriotic or playing the ‘project fear’ card, just being sadly realistic as well as fearful for the future if we don’t secure a deal with EU.

Helen Webster, Main Street, Fulford, York

I got it wrong on the Lisbon Treaty

Whoops, I got it wrong on the Lisbon Treaty! Thank you Mr Evans (Letters January 30) for putting me straight. I obviously didn’t look far enough. However, there is mention of other nations (not yet in the Euro) having to join by 2022.

I took what I read in good faith but it shows one must be careful what to believe from newspaper articles and the internet.

I still don’t believe the EU will not slide into a one nation state. Sadly I have no faith in continental leaders or the unelected souls in Brussels.

Mrs L Walker,

Wheldrake, York