Sir,

Unlike last week’s correspondent, Sir Eric Howells, I am optimistic for the future of Wales and the UK outside the European Union. I have rarely read such a depressing letter. Sir Eric questions the triggering of Article 60 when ‘the future is darker than ever.’ Although before my time, the autumns of 1914 and 1939 must have looked truly frightening. In my lifetime, I’ve seen inflation at 25 per cent (1970’s), interest rates at 12 per cent and more (early 1990s) and the financial crash of 2008. Does the future look worse than on all of those occasions?

David Cameron simply honoured his party’s manifesto pledge to hold a referendum, giving the British people a long-awaited opportunity to vote whether to remain in the EU or to leave. I respect him for that. Previous PMs refused to give the electorate a say, although if I recall correctly one of them did promise a referendum, but failed to deliver. It is rather patronising to suggest that many of the electorate did not understand the issue. The question was simple enough - and the majority voted to leave (a larger majority than, for example, voted in Wales for the creation of a Welsh Assembly in 1997).

The EU bureaucrats helped win the vote for the leave side by stubbornly refusing to meet Mr. Cameron’s pretty modest demands in the negotiations which took place last winter. The British people are not fools. They could see that David Cameron did his best to negotiate a reasonable settlement with the EU, but there was no willingness on the other side to cooperate.

We were told that whatever the people decided in the referendum, the elected government would implement that decision. So we need to let them get on with it. Mrs. May seems to be setting about the task in a positive manner. A positive approach is essential, as, whilst few would deny it will be difficult, we have many things going for us, not least that we buy a huge amount of ‘stuff’ from the other EU countries and they will presumably wish to continue to do business with us. Keeping our negotiating cards confidential and yet at the same time keeping parliament informed and allowing debate about said negotiations is a difficult balancing act. The situation is unprecedented so we should trust the elected government to do their best.

It is in the best interests of the country and the EU that negotiations are concluded as soon as possible, hopefully with a satisfactory result for all parties. By that, I mean a result which is not only good for Britain, but also is satisfactory for the remaining EU countries. With goodwill on all sides, that should be possible to achieve. If there is not goodwill on the EU side, of course, that will make it more difficult. If that should prove to be the case, then I’m sure that the British people will feel, more than ever, that they made the right decision in voting to leave.

Should MPs and/or the House of Lords try to prevent Brexit, they would be opposing the will of the people and causing a constitutional crisis which in itself will lead to this matter dragging on indefinitely, prolonging the uncertainty to the detriment of the country (and the EU).

The pound has certainly fallen sharply since the referendum. We were warned a fall would be likely in the event of a leave vote. That is one prediction the Remainers got right. There are winners and losers from currency movements. In the present case, our exporters will be gaining somewhat. Our tourist industry should benefit from more foreign visitors and from more UK visitors who should find that British holidays offer better value. Prices of imported goods will rise. When/if the pound recovers the situation will reverse.

The truth is that nobody really knows how this will pan out, but a positive approach is essential and I for one am confident that Wales and the rest of the UK have a bright future outside the EU.

John Bancroft,

Penally.