It is not true that Jeremy Corbyn has “offered no encouragement to supporters of a second EU referendum” (No mention of second vote as Corbyn calls for election, 16 January). The step-by-step approach decided by the Labour party conference has seen its first resounding success – the heaviest parliamentary defeat of the democratic era. If Corbyn does not succeed in forcing a general election this week, the shadow cabinet will decide which amendment to support.
As the European court of justice has ruled that the UK can unilaterally revoke article 50, the best way to stabilise the situation, avoid no-deal and leave all options on the table is for Labour to support an amendment to do that. Perhaps Caroline Lucas will propose that and a cross-party coalition will carry it. The decision on endorsing this through a general election or a second referendum can wait until the best course of action becomes clear.
David Thacker
London
• A general election is the last thing we need, perpetuating as it would division over cohesion in our fraught society. Brexit has never been a party political issue and there is no reason to believe that Jeremy Corbyn would stand any more chance of success than Theresa May. So why not establish a government of all the talents prepared to put the common national interest first and foremost, basing decisions dispassionately on evidence now available? Such an empirical collaborative approach, calmly pursued, might go some way to both reduce tension and raise confidence in the population at large. This would of course need time so deferring article 50 would be inevitable.
Peter Chapman
Ashwell, Hertfordshire
• The country has been on the back foot in its negotiations with the EU ever since the Brexit process began. This could change if Labour announced that the party intended to approach negotiations with the EU from the opposite direction.
Instead of working towards a soft Brexit, the leadership would promote a cross-party and international alliance to negotiate reform of undemocratic EU practice and procedures, as demanded by many across the 27 countries.
This would allow the party to go to the country with a recommendation that the UK remain within the EU subject to ratification of a package of proposed reforms. We could give the EU a transition period. If no progress was made within the period agreed, we would leave. Sorted.
Colin Richardson
London
• If Jeremy Corbyn offers little hope for people’s vote campaigners, then hundreds of thousands of them will offer little hope for Jeremy Corbyn when the time eventually comes.
Patrick Cosgrove
Bucknell, Shropshire
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters
• Do you have a photo you’d like to share with Guardian readers? Click here to upload it and we’ll publish the best submissions in the letters spread of our print edition
