Readers' letters - July 11

We need politicians who will lead us out of this unholy mess
Boris Johnson, former Foreign Secretary, and David Davis, former Secretary of State for Exiting the European UnionBoris Johnson, former Foreign Secretary, and David Davis, former Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
Boris Johnson, former Foreign Secretary, and David Davis, former Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union

Well! I have just heard of two resignations from the cabinet within 24 hours. It has been ‘reality check day’. First there was David Davis, the clumsily titled Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, and he was followed by Boris Johnson, who held one of the four great offices of state, that of Foreign Secretary.One would have thought that those two individuals would have known exactly what it was they were voting for when they voted for the UK to leave the EU. Perhaps they did know but now the Prime Minister has had to explain to them that there isn’t any way she can deliver it for them. They have both demonstrated poor judgement.It makes one wonder how many Brexiteers voted for undeliverable policies. The government’s ministers are still working out what it was that the Brexit voters did vote for. I can hardly wait to find out.In a letter to this paper some months ago, I claimed that when the UK joined the EU in the 1970s, that was a revolution. Then I defined a revolution as a change so profound that it could never be undone, meaning that the world could never revert to its earlier condition. I illustrated that with one example –that of the Industrial Revolution.I still believe, regardless of whether or not it is a good thing, that ‘un-joining’ the EU cannot be achieved.Events of the last 24 hours make me feel that my judgement is at last being justified.The UK is in an unholy mess and needs politicians who will lead us all out of it. I place particular stress on the need to lead. It is just not good enough for politicians to say “I intend to vote in a way that reflects the way the electorate in my constituency voted”. That would be copping out.Coun Michael McLoughlinLabourWigan Central Ward

Rule-makers and rule-takersThe Cabinet Brexiteers have finally worked it out for themselves – leaving the EU is a costly mistake. There was no plan at the time of the referendum and, two years later, there is still no plan. They have tried to bend the laws of logic to have their cake and eat it, and have failed – as they were bound to do.For me, the icing on this particular cake are the resignations of David Davis and Boris Johnson. Please don’t feel sorry for Theresa May. Before the referendum, she was a convinced Remainer, but with the promise of a big job, the lady was turned. Right now she must be feeling convinced again that, for the UK, there is no better trade deal than membership of the EU. Within the EU, we are part of the rule-making. Outside it we will be rule-takers.Ken CookeAddress suppliedMasterplan exposed?

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I have been wondering for months why the EU has been allowed to put forward its propaganda unchallenged.Apparently, according to this, there is no way we can actually leave without a civil war in the island of Ireland, and economic ruin for the UK, but there is no response from our government. Now I’m not clever enough to come up with a solution, but I do now wonder whether our PM, (a remainer by inclination), had a masterplan all along which would appear so unworkable that Brexit would have to be abandoned.However, I am not sure whether there is any way forward now that would gain sufficient support from MPs, no matter what the referendum mandated.AF LeylandHe should have got on his bike

Did the resignation of David Davis belatedly trigger Boris Johnson’s resignation from Ministerial office, or would he have clung to office like his co-Brexiteer Michael Gove?His scathing letter of resignation, forcefully criticising the Prime Minister, should surely have been penned last Friday or Saturday. As far as I can tell, Mrs May’s Brexit Plan, which she claimed the entire Cabinet had agreed to after the Chequers meeting, remains the same. Perhaps at the time he could not face the long walk home, in that case he should have taken his bike with him.Denis LeeAshtonBoris Johnson’s rocking the boat

Now that Boris Johnson is merely ‘a backbencher’, he will presumably have more time “to lie down in front of the bulldozers” at Heathrow.As he said when he avoided the issue in a Parliamentary vote recently, “his resignation would have no impact”.He needs to be careful if he wants to remain an MP – his majority is only 5,000 and many people will not forgive him for ‘rocking the boat’ at such a critical time for the nation. Michael Dennisvia email