The British people must have the final say over Brexit

Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

Back to the ballot in 2019? (PA)

Yes, I completely agree with your correspondent Anthony Slack. I think when people voted – and it was a slim majority – people weren't aware of the consequences, costs and red tape that were required. I can't see a solution to the Irish border, EU nationals in the UK, UK nationals in the EU, single market and payback costs. Please, Philip Hammond and Theresa May, reconsider this faux pas.

Raymond Cowhie Wigan
Address supplied

The EU Referendum was held in order to resolve squabbling within the Conservative Party, but this backfired and they are still squabbling.

Meanwhile, a very slender majority voted to leave the EU. There was little information made available prior to the vote, but lies were told – notably on the side of buses – which were denied the day after.

Since the vote, it has become clear that the Government had no plan for post-Brexit Britain and little understanding of how the EU actually works.

The referendum was ill thought-through – in fact, not thought-through at all. Given the enormity of the decision being taken, a sizeable majority should have been required and in any case the referendum should have been accepted as 'advisory' to be followed up by debate and a vote in Parliament.

Our European friends were saddened by the result of the referendum, but we are now becoming a laughing stock as the ignorance and lack of preparation of our Government becomes apparent.

Before we sign the 'divorce agreement', the people must be given a final say as to whether leaving the EU is indeed what they want.

At that point we will have the facts. And not on the side of buses.

Liz Nicolay
Address supplied

I have just read your letter regarding stopping Brexit and I couldn't agree more. Everywhere I go, everyone I speak to, whether they voted Remain or Leave, they are all saying the same thing – we have to allow a change of mind in the light of what we now know. This is democracy. Blindly pressing on, ignoring the evidence is more like a dictatorship.

In every step of our own lives we change our minds when faced with new evidence. We pull out of house purchases if the survey shows problems we had been unaware of when viewing; we resign from jobs we thought were perfect at interview if working conditions or the ethos changes; we divorce when relationships change – the list is endless.

Changing our mind is a fundamental right in a democratic society. The will of the people is not set in stone. It is the duty of government to be honest and do the right thing.

Claire Chadwick
Address supplied

I firmly believe that MPs and the people of the UK need to have a free vote on Brexit – which will cause massive damage to the wellbeing of the people of Britain if it is allowed to happen.

Rupert Harrison
London W11

Charlie Gard

I want to thank Will Gore and his family for their courage in writing what must have been an incredibly difficult article to pen but which adds enormously to the understanding of us who have been so lucky. It has been brilliantly written and brought me to tears. I wish him and his family love and good luck for the future.

Frank Walters
Address supplied

Refugee crisis

The Independent is right that the drowning of refugees in the Mediterranean should spur greater efficiency and moral acumen in harnessing the political will to deal with the refugee crisis. The refugee crisis has slipped down the agenda of domestic and global politics. The EU needs to stop dithering and assist refugees to resettle in host countries close to their homelands. Libya and Turkey are two sources of refugees sailing to Europe but there are other countries, such as Jordan and Lebanon, who have received biblical numbers of global refugees in relation to their size and population ratio and get only scant coverage. Their generosity has caused social and economic problems to skyrocket in an already turbulent region. The UK has prided itself on being an oasis of tolerance, openness, compassion, justice, solidarity, fairness and diversity. It can rise to the challenge, embrace burden sharing solutions that respect human rights, life and dignity.

Munjed Farid Al Qutob
London NW2

Misleading statements

May I suggest that in keeping with political reality, The Independent adopts an editorial polity of stating 'if the UK leaves the EU'? To continue to use the expression 'when' is now clearly misleading.

Timon Screech
London SE1