Your Letters: December 21

HOW THE UK CAN MOVE FORWARD

The 2016 vote to leave the EU significantly transformed our political landscape, prompting a thorough examination of this pivotal choice. Reactions have varied, ranging from dismissing the intelligence of those who voted to leave to engaging in substantive discussions about the economic advantages of EU membership. However, the ongoing struggles of the bloc make these discussions increasingly complex.

The fundamental issue post-Brexit is the substantial disconnect among our leaders regarding the tangible benefits of leaving the EU and the pathways to achieve them. In contrast to today’s uncertainty, past figures from both the left and right had clear, actionable plans for life after Brexit.

Leaders such as Tony Benn and Peter Shore emphasized the importance of legal independence, arguing that decision-making power must return to Parliament. They asserted that true sovereignty cannot coexist with foreign courts overriding our domestic authority; the concept of pooled sovereignty is a dangerous illusion.

A centralized Europe without sovereign nation-states is fundamentally undemocratic. Unfortunately, we have allowed this flawed model to take root in the UK. The incorporation of human rights law into UK legislation has shifted power away from elected representatives and toward lawyers and an activist judiciary, undermining our democratic integrity.