IT seems likely the UK will crash out of the European Union on the basis of a referendum vote made by an electorate who were not given the necessary information on the diplomatic and economic consequences of their vote to have enabled them to make a reasoned decision either for or against.

As a result we must realistically expect great reluctance by other nations to risk signing trade treaties with the UK unless our right to revoke them at whim by an uninformed popular referendum is expressly ruled out.

Walking out of a 40-year-old treaty of international co-operation on such flimsy vacuous grounds will also inevitably, greatly diminish the UK’s current moral authority in the United Nations to argue for and promote the peaceful, diplomatic resolution of potentially armed disputes between neighbouring nations.

Maurice Vassie,

Deighton, York

Civil service can be envy of world again

ONE of the tragedies of EU rule is the extent to which the civil service has been politicised and suborned into supporting ‘project fear’ at every level and on every occasion.

It is reassuring to learn that when our people are relieved of the necessity to clear everything with Brussels or Strasbourg and their political masters are otherwise engaged they find work much more satisfying.

Many of them do enjoy taking responsibility for and pride in their results.

Hopefully when a General Election has cleared out the present egregious and self-indulgent Commons the incoming administration will not only be more representative of the electorate but it will have the benefit of an old-style bureaucracy.

Our traditional civil service truly was the envy of the world with its ethos of impartiality and respect for old British values.

Perhaps the longer Brexit is stalled the better prepared the service will be to take on full responsibility for running the country.

A V Martin,

Westfield Close,

Wigginton, York

Independent quango ...appointed by MPs

MPs claim their salary increase has been decided by an independent body, ie a quango. Who appoints people to these quangos? The Government.

Peter Rickaby,

West Park, Selby