Leavers’ concerns are not unfounded

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/20/leavers-concerns-are-not-unfounded

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People who would like Britain to remain in the EU should not try, as Tony Blair now plans, to persuade those who voted leave last June that they made a mistake (Blair’s Brexit speech sparks Labour fury, 18 February). They should acknowledge that leavers have some well-founded concerns and should try to persuade our European partners to introduce the reforms that would overcome them.

The UK is already experiencing rapid natural growth. According to the Office for National Statistics, on present trends, net immigration from the EU would lead to a 3 million increase in the population of the UK by 2039. Most of the increase would take place in England, which is already the most densely populated country in the EU after Malta. It is not reasonable to force the UK to accept an unlimited number of immigrants from a rich region that is much less densely populated, whose population is growing only slowly if at all, and where no one is experiencing persecution.

I doubt if David Cameron ever tried to explain this point during his negotiations, but it should not be too difficult to do so, or to answer the objection that freedom of movement, as now interpreted, is essential to the workings of the EU. The EU has many valuable features, but none of them depend on allowing the citizens of any EU country to settle in any other regardless of the consequences for the people already living there.Stephen PlowdenLondon

• Abi Wilkinson is right to a degree (Leave voters are not all idiots – some Londoners still don’t get it, theguardian.com, 14 February). Equally, not all remain voters are metropolitan elitists who believe that leave voters are idiots. Holding either of these views is characteristic of those who are unable to leave a damaging and divisive referendum campaign behind them and come to a point of accepting both victory and defeat.

Undoubtedly, too many people still fall into these two categories – they have been tribalised by the referendum. The challenge now is in bridging the divide. Doing this will require both sides to move. Both have to be more respectful of the other’s views. Both have to actively seek common ground. And both have to enter into a dialogue. If remainers are to reach out the hand of friendship, leavers have to be willing to take it.Sydney NashLondon

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