LETTER: Who is giving out the Brexit parachutes?

However, let’s tread carefully and cautiously and make sure that the statement ‘Britain’s pre-eminence departed via the chambers of an Oxbridge Union debating society’ doesn’t become the mantra of a new, isolated and excluded England.

If we must leap lemming-like over a cliff (and I fear the route is already inked indelibly on a pre-planned map), can we expect our government to dole out the available stock of parachutes with a least a gentle nod to need?

Or will it, more likely, allow the corpulent citizenry of the rich and powerful to purchase multiple chutes, not to soften the blow at the bottom of the cliff but to allow a gentle, slowly descending drift and subsequent soft landing, probably somewhere west of Liverpool ?

As my late father liked to say: “The only people who enjoy war are the spectators and those who get to play chess with the warriors.”

I wonder if the readers will indulge me with a rather less eloquent observation of my own: “The only fans of chaos are those that own the camouflage.”

Richard Bowen,

Farrar Street, York

My vote goes to the tooth fairy every time

I refer to AV Martin’s letter ‘Is Nigel Farage back on the ballot papers?’ (February 13): if he was, and the choice was between him and the tooth fairy, I would vote for the tooth fairy every time.

Maureen Robinson,

Broadway, York

The EU desperately need our billions

WE cannot agree to having the backstop included in the Brexit deal because that would tie us into being still controlled by the EU, which is why they want it kept in.

No one seems to realise that we have the upper hand here. The EU desperately need the divorce bill money but they are hoping we will cave in first.

We must hold our nerve and tell them it’s our deal without the backstop or we leave on a no deal and they will not get any money. Then wait. They need our billions desperately and at the last minute they will give in.

Ann Cruickshank,

Laund Road,

Huddersfield