Nissan’s Sunderland snub over Brexit is further proof of the Tories’ failure to lead the country

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Nissan had committed to production at the Sunderland plant in October 2016, four months after the EU referendum (Reuters)

Almost two thirds of Sunderland’s electorate voted to leave the EU, despite a warning by Nissan of the advantages of remaining within the EU.

Now Nissan is pulling investment on the future X-Trail SUV. The pro-Brexit lobby will claim that this has nothing to do with Brexit, but a survey of more than 1,200 companies, published on 1 February from the Institute of Directors, shows that nearly a third of companies are either moving or actively considering doing so in connection with Brexit.

This is why Brexiteers are terrified of allowing the people to now have an informed say on whether they wish to accept the consequences of the lies, fantasies and wishful thinking spewed out at the referendum.

Governments are supposed to lead, and to lead in the interests of the nation. Focusing on placating dogmatists and fanatics is not leadership.

Cowering behind “the will of the people” – a narrow decision based on fantasies and falsehoods, underpinned by obscure funding which has attracted serious questions – is not leadership.

For this government to then manoeuvre to drive the nation down what is now evidently a disastrous course is simply irresponsible. The Conservative party does not lead. It has shown itself entirely derelict in its duty to the nation.

Arthur Streatfield
Bath

Sean O’Grady’s article, “Nissan’s U-turn is the beginning of the end for Britain’s revived car industry” (3 February) paints a bleak but realistic picture.

But he proudly voted for Brexit.

Is this the primary problem with our Brexit dichotomy?

Paul Kerwin
Nantwich

We don't need a snap election

One seriously wonders how crazy and serious things have to get before the political classes wake up to this crisis.

The latest blow is from Nissan and the almost certain decision not to build the X-trail model in Sunderland.

We are already only too aware of other car manufacturers cutting back; only a fool would ignore such corporate manoeuvrings.

But what have we heard from the Labour party in the last few days? The old chestnut of fighting for a general election. They must get a grip, the next general election will be 2022 and by that time tens of thousands of Labour voters’ jobs will have evaporated.

And if they do manage to gain power at that point, I predict some crazy scheme of nationalising the remnants of the car industry.

Anyone over 50 should be able to remember British Leyland. For goodness’ sake, are we to have a rerun of the shambles of that era?

A moribund economy, crippled NHS, high unemployment, anger, crazy populist parties, and an endless campaign to rejoin the EU.

This is what we have to look forward to.

Robert Boston
Kingshill

Delivering Brexit will prevent civil unrest

It's not so much riots as a result of no deal that authorities need to be concerned with, but civil unrest if there's no Brexit, a seriously delayed Brexit or a losers' vote.

Neil Coppendale
Address supplied

Hopeless MPs

Over the last few weeks, I've heard less sense from MPs on important issues that affect us all than from David Attenborough, Jamie Oliver, Martin Lewis, Chris Packham and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall combined.

John Laker
Marlow

Steiner schools aren’t all the same

The letter from Amanda Spielman, head of Ofsted, to Damian Hinds (reported 1 February) about Steiner schools raises serious and concerning questions.

It discloses that Spielman lumps all Steiner schools together and questions Steiner pedagogy itself.

Steiner schools may share a common approach to education, but they are not an homogenous group.

Our school (Steiner Academy Bristol) is entirely free-standing as are all the other state-funded Steiner academies and we should be assessed on our own merits.

We contend that this did not happen with our own inspection in November which we assert was flawed from beginning to end. It is for this reason we are applying for the inspection to be judicially reviewed.

The key feature of Steiner pedagogy is that it is age-appropriate and takes a holistic approach to child development.

Around the world, and in countries that top the world league tables, state-funded Steiner schools are held up as beacons of effective education.

Much academic research now endorses the Steiner approach. Does Ofsted understand this at all? Or do they have a standardised, one-size-fits-all view of education?

Are we seeing a campaign against a different way of educating our children? If so, that is deeply worrying and arguably discriminatory.

Roy Douglas
Bristol

Pope Francis is no stranger to the Islamic world

Najah al-Otaibi has misrepresented history by claiming that Pope Francis's visit to the UAE will be the first of its kind to the Islamic world. Pope Francis has visited Turkey, Jordan and the Palestinian territories.

In Turkey, his holiness prayed at the blue mosque, and in the holy land, he visited the Jordan river where Jesus Christ was baptised by John.

In Palestine, he visited the church of the nativity, the birthplace of Jesus and prayed for peaceful coexistence, universal harmony and healing in our time.

We face formidable challenges from sectarian strife, ignorance, distrust, inter-religious conflicts to poverty and unemployment.

Let us hope that his holiness's visit will bridge relations between the Christian and Muslim world, and create an invincible defence against those who sow division and discord.

Munjed Farid Al Qutob
London NW2