BRITAIN’S decision to quit the EU is not just a victory for this country.

People in other EU member states who are becoming increasingly angry at the way in which the bloated, dysfunctional, undemocratic Brussels machine works, will take heart from what the British people have achieved and now follow our lead and demand referenda of their own.

As far as the EU is concerned (to borrow some words from Winston Churchill when he spoke of our first real victory in World War II), “this isn’t the end. It isn’t even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps the end of the beginning”.

ROBERT READMAN

Norwich Avenue West, Bournemouth

Bright future for all

BRITISH democracy has spoken, something which the European elite did not expect, they would be wise to understand that their totalitarian objectives are not wanted by their populace.

And for the UK, a team of cross-party consensus is needed to carry forward the Brexit arrangements and negotiations and Scotland must be told ‘no second independence referendum’ until after the UK exit is finalised, and possibly not for several years after that.

The UK can now look forward to a few difficult years but to a much brighter independent future for our children and successive generations.

Well done the British people!

G SMITH

Poole

No need to panic

I VOTED Remain and stayed up until 12.30 when the first two local authorities in England announced the voting in their areas, and it was apparent to me that Leave would win.

It is impossible to tell what the true consequences will be, but I am not as concerned as I thought I might be.

Mr Cameron has left a significant political legacy albeit not one he may have wished for. I admire his bravery. We may now have a more effective opposition which would be a positive for the nation’s democratic wellbeing. An autumn General Election would, however, be unwelcome at a time when we need some stability and long-term vision rather than short termism.

I hope that the best people from across the political parties, from the business world and from academia will shape this blueprint for the future.

We will still trade, travel, work with and make friends with other people in the EU.

There are several positives to the EU, and it is true that all international organisations have their flaws such as the United Nations, which has been shown to be ineffective, and unwilling to assert even the powers it does have in, say, the Syria Conflict.

The future is more uncertain but I am not in a panic. A long chapter is over. Now we have to write the next one and strive to make it a good one.

MARK NASH

Gordon Road, Christchurch

Unfair vote system

WELL, the British people have made a decision which over the next weeks, months and years, will be come to be seen as a very stupid mistake.

The decision was strongly influenced by the feeling that there are lots of things wrong in our country and regrettably this is true. However, we were misled by a powerful right-wing coalition of media and politicians who managed to persuade a majority of our citizens that all these problems in our country resulted from our membership of the EU. This brought about the misguided support for Brexit.

The UK, as we are constantly told, is a rich country – “the fifth largest economy in the world”. There would be no need for austerity if we availed ourselves of the wealth of the rich and the profits made by big business. Money could be found for the public services and benefits. This would make our country fairer and happier. However, the right-wing establishment, itself part of the wealthy elite, does not legislate to permit this.

We need now to establish a truly representative democracy in which that right wing cannot achieve a majority by obtaining a mere 37 per cent of the vote. We need a fairer voting system and a coalition of those wanting a fairer Britain to ensure that the rich establishment no longer runs our country for its benefit.

TONY HAMILTON

Ridgeway, Broadstone

Corbyn must go

JEREMY Corbyn ran a very good IN campaign.

INdifferent, INsipid and ultimately INeffective. If this is his “new politics” then he should be OUT. Politics is about conviction as demonstrated by Chuka Umunna, David Cameron, Ruth Davidson, Boris Johnson, Alan Johnson, Nicola Sturgeon and Jo Cox, not half-hearted weak support.

PHILIP EMMEL

Meadow Close, Sopley

Britain saved itself

TO ADAPT William Pitt after the success at Trafalgar in 1805, “Britain has saved itself by its exertions, and perhaps we can save Europe by our example.”

TONY WOODCOCK

Dingle Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth