Even older voters now realise Brexit was a bad idea | UK News
Are Brexiteers grappling with the consequences of leaving the EU?
In today’s MetroTalk a reader sheds light on YouGov polls indicating a growing uncertainty among the public over Brexit.
If this trend continues what do you think it’ll mean for the country going forward? Does it mean most of us think we were better off in European Union?
Meanwhile, readers discuss Britain’s achievements, wondering whether the Britain still has the same global influence, consequences for the Post Office and whether they would get the same treatment as a celebrity in an emergency.
Share your thoughts in the comments.
Was Brexit a mistake?
You’ve had several letters highlighting the age divide over Brexit. However, that divide is diminishing.
YouGov carries out a monthly poll. The latest (Dec 19-20) had 53 per cent saying leaving the EU was the wrong thing to do, while 34 per cent reckoned it was the correct decision – with the remainder saying they didn’t know.
Only among the over-65s was there a majority believing that it was the correct decision, at 54 per cent (38 per cent saying it was wrong).
Two years ago (Dec 14-15, 2021), the figure for over-65s believing Brexit was the right thing to do was 59 per cent. Two years before that (Oct 20-21, 2019): 64 per cent. If this trend continues, there’ll be no age group in which a majority believes leaving the EU was the right thing.Peter Brown, Bradford
METRO TALK – HAVE YOUR SAY
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Leaving the ECHR isn’t something to be ‘proud of’
In defence of accusations about Britain’s colonial past, David from Durham (MetroTalk, Mon) says Britain was the first to abolish slavery (in 1807). Actually, Portugal abolished slavery in the mainland in 1761 and Denmark was the first country to ban the transatlantic slave trade (in 1792).
Also it is all very well for you to say that Britain created human rights with the Magna Carta but Britain is now desperate to leave the ECHR, which has become the ultimate authority in human rights. Not so sure if this is something to be proud of. Pedro, Hammersmith
If UK respect can be measured by the number of commonwealth, what about the countries that left?
HG (MetroTalk, Fri) says the size of the Commonwealth demonstrates the global respect afforded Britain. The Commonwealth continues to shrink. Barbados all but left in 2021 and Jamaica is likely to follow – a referendum is planned for 2024. Polls in some other members indicate a majority want to leave. Lewis Gibson, Birmingham
HG claims the UK is not ‘isolated’. Yet post-Brexit trade deals with other countries are either limited in value (eg, Japan, 2020 and Australia, 2021) or non-existent (the US).
And despite the obvious UK decline from being the world’s first superpower in the 19th century to being the fifth richest country by National Net Wealth, HG then states – without evidence – that the UK’s influence across the globe is ‘still huge’.
HG implies that respect for the UK is to be determined solely by the number of former British-colonised states currently inside the Commonwealth, despite those who’ve left it (Zimbabwe, 2003 and The Gambia, 2013) and those whom never joined in the first place (Myanmar and the Republic of Ireland).
Brexiteers love to claim that staying in the EU was bad, while former parts of the British Empire staying in the Commonwealth is good. But isn’t everyone else’s sovereignty just as important to them as British sovereignty is to the UK? Robert Bucknor, Tunbridge Wells
Special treatment for footballers
You report that the home of Newcastle footballer Joelinton was burgled on Saturday and Northumbria police deployed officers and a helicopter (Metro, Mon). How many other victims of burglary can say that the police deployed a helicopter to their homes, or is that just the preserve of Premier League footballers? Timothy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
After an umpteenth failure and despite the power of a New Year’s resolution, I conclude that the only way to stop smoking is never to start. I Quit, London
Post Office withheld evidence – it must be stripped of its powers of prosecution
Col Blake (MetroTalk, Fri) points out that the Post Office used private prosecutions to go after the sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses it falsely accused of fraud and theft.
A number of things have gone wrong in this scandal, relating to the way the cases were brought and how they were conducted. They demonstrate that the Post Office should have its powers of prosecution removed.
There was no proper disclosure to the defence of problems with the Fujitsu software, which were known for more than 20 years.
This would have happened in a normal prosecution and been helpful to those unjustly accused. This is why disclosure exists in criminal cases.
There was also clearly a conflict of interest for people conducting Post Office prosecutions when they were incentivised and paid by the number of ‘successful’ prosecutions brought.
The real problem has been Fujitsu’s faulty system, on which it has had very little accountability so far.
That needs to change, with government compensation covered by the company. Fujitsu, it should be noted, has lots of other government contracts. Lionel Hutt, Keynsham
MORE : Tony Blair was warned about ‘flawed’ Horizon system before Post Office rollout
MORE : Newcastle United footballer’s home targeted by burglars as he watched team play
MORE : Video: Rishi Sunak plays down election ‘wipe out’ poll findings
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