MADAM,

Like Clive Lindley, (The makings of a disaster, 26th October) I am a lifelong European and voted to remain in the June referendum.

Unlike Clive, I think we have to face the fact that by a small but significant majority we lost the argument. Surprisingly many of the most deprived communities and the recipients of European largesse, such as the Welsh valleys, voted strongly for Brexit.

I thought the arguments were “over egged” on all sides and the “fear card” played shamelessly. I do not, however, subscribe to the patrician idea that a dim electorate was misled by exaggerated claims from politicians and populist newspapers. We are well used to discounting both. In particular I take exception to the idea that young people “get it” whereas presumably the rest of us don’t. More than once I have overheard the argument that the over sixties should not have had a vote since they don’t have a long term stake in the future. What kind of society would be so careless with the accumulated wisdom of age?

The majority last June faced down the ranks of the liberal establishment at home and abroad and decided we needed a close but different relationship with Europe. I wanted us to shape the future of Europe from within but no one can say for certain who will be proved right. Euro scepticism is growing across the continent and the future of the whole European project is in doubt.

It could be that we will all live to regret the decision though at the moment the economy is still growing, confidence remains high and the car maker Nissan has been persuaded to stay and indeed expand its operation in the country. Instead of trying to subvert the will of the people the political class should be asking themselves how they got it so wrong.

David Kenny

(Tredunnock)