Every voice should be heard

John Hayes's robust defence of the freedom of thought, of speech, to ridicule others, is the essence of democracy.

To speak his mind is every free person's right, provided of course that you are not of the Liberal establishment who challenge the intellectual stagnation born of ideological dogma of his fellow Brexiteers.

Aspirational platitudes are not certainties that can be verified. They are dreams rarely realised in a dynamic world.

He and his fellow Brexiteer ideologues denigrate and traduce the intellectual competence, accumulated experience, academic integrity, honesty, patriotism and commitment to democratic values of Remainers .

Remainers are not 'enemies of the people' nor elitist opponents of democracy because we believe that free persons have a right to change their minds .

The 28 per cent, some 12 million eligible voters who did not vote in the referendum, are not disenfranchised and have a right to be heard. Is change supported by 37 per cent of those entitled to vote really democratic or dictatorship by the minority?

The younger voters, if given the chance, may be more motivated to vote and there is no evidence that the majority would not vote Remain. The overwhelming majority of older voters who voted Leave are dying off.

The snapshot of opinion in June 2016 condemns those who will endure the necessary social economic and political pain of the changes Britain must make to survive and thrive in or out of the EU, while keeping the older generation in the style to which they have become accustomed.

The 'Back to the Future' theme made amusing, enjoyable, delusional fantasy films but is not a blueprint for a successful economy.

It looks increasingly likely we will be leaving the European Union in March 2019 without a deal. Robert Azevedo, director of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) said on Radio 4's Today programme Britain should not assume it can rely on WTO rules after March 2019. That is being very ambitious.

Trade will not stop, but it will not be a walk in the park. For the Brexiteers, just another expert to denigrate.

Paul M Walls

Spalding