Larry Elliott highlights the minority case on the left for leaving the EU (The left case for leave is gaining strength as it becomes clear that this Europe is not for turning, 1 October). It is one I agree with in principle. The EU is a neoliberal institution, and while it may be possible to reform it, this seems to have dropped off the agenda of those on the left who argue for remaining in the EU. It would be highly likely to prove a serious obstacle to any progressive advance in the UK.
That said, I voted remain because there is also a tactical argument to be had about when would be a good time to leave. At the moment we are most likely to be heading for a rightwing Brexit, stirring up racism and attacks on the conditions of those at work. It is true that the crisis in rightwing politics this is causing – witness this week’s Tory conference – could bring a general election and a victory for the left. If so, those who backed “lexit” – a leftwing exit from the EU – will be shown to have had a strong, if little heard, case.
Keith Flett
London
• While Larry Elliott makes a convincing case for leaving the EU, he does ignore the elephant in the room – the chaos that will ensue from a disorderly and precipitate Brexit. He will know that every significant economic downturn is preceded by a sharp decline in investment.
Another article (Manufacturers put brakes on investment amid Brexit fears, 1 October) highlights the concerns expressed by the EEF manufacturers’ body over the falling investment within their industry, caused by uncertainty over Brexit – an anxiety that can only grow as the government remains divided over its Brexit strategy. Unlike Elliott, I cannot remain sanguine about the immediate post-Brexit future, as it seems likely to result in unemployment for thousands in the manufacturing industry.
There is also evidence that the tectonic plates in the EU are shifting – the rising rightwing nationalist parties are anything but neoliberals. The manifesto of France’s Front National (now the National Rally) in the last election was focused on protecting the lifestyle and welfare of French nationals from the threats posed by the aggressive business practices of the large multinational corporations.
Derrick Joad
Leeds
• Larry Elliott is the only rational pro-Brexit commentator I know of. Normally I agree with him. He is right in saying the EU is no longer the social democratic organisation it once was, but draws the wrong conclusion. Eliminating the hybrid non-starters such as Chequers and Canada+, the choice we are left with is between being a comparatively rich member of a powerful free-market economy – with the possibility of enhancing its few remaining social democrat credentials – or a poor, isolated free-market standalone economy. Unlike Larry, I prefer the former.
Stan Zetie
Streetly, West Midlands
• In her article (Thumbs down: how the video games industry is battling Brexit, theguardian.com, 1 October), Marijam Didžgalvytė says Games4EU’s efforts to highlight the challenges Brexit presents to the video games industry “might have been more useful if expressed more than six months before the exit date”. Actually, the video games industry was one of the first to constructively express its concerns about Brexit.
Trade industry body Ukie produced its State of Play report in March 2017, outlining the industry’s specific concerns in time for the article 50 notification. But with the government veering away from sensible compromise towards a dangerous no deal in the past six months, we felt it was necessary to passionately remake the case to do what we can to avoid the cliff edge.
Additionally, the idea that we are “only looking to protect migrants who are useful to its apparatus” is off the mark. We care about the rights of EU nationals to live and work in the UK because they are our friends. The idea that so many people so dear to us could have their lives plunged into chaos as a result of a botched negotiation derived from a referendum they couldn’t vote in is intolerable, which is why we vehemently oppose any Brexit deal that fundamentally threatens individual rights.
George Osborn
Co-founder, Games4EU
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