SIR – IT was very moving indeed to watch the remembrance of the Battle of the Somme at the monument in Thiepval.

It reminded people of the sacrifice made by many so young and their families.

Someone who spoke made the unfortunate sad remark that we hope to “learn” from our mistakes; yet we do not.

One cannot but put this into today’s context that is, the British peoples’ recent decision to leave EU.

I cannot see how our membership of this organisation has done anything to keep the peace in Europe. Indeed the situation in the Balkans remains volatile and Putin runs riot in the Ukraine, to name but two examples.

British MEPs have been subjected to abuse and quite unmerited taunts of racism. Bob Geldof recently covered himself in “manure” to put it politely when our fishermen gathered at Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament to highlight how our fishing industry has been blighted by the Common Fisheries’ Policy.

It was moving to watch soldiers from many Commonwealth nations standing guard at Thiepval. We now have the opportunity to broaden our horizons waiting for Article 50 to be invoked. I understand that the markets are settling.

I am always disappointed by David Barlow’s rather vitriolic remarks to those who do not agree with him – “ignorance is the new knowledge”; ironically he complains of the “lies and distortions shouted very loudly over and over again by the Brexiteers”. The remainers certainly did their share (Mr. C and World War 3?) aided by the BBC and the Guardian.

Whether Edward Elgar wrote Pomp and Circumstance No. 1 in D Major as an orchestral piece or whatever, as Mr. Barlow rightly says he would have been aggrieved that the remainers showed disrespect for his composition by defacing his head with an IN t-shirt. This certainly was a piece of “ignorance” and far from patriotic. Personally I look forward with confidence post-the invoking of Article 50 to a bright and prosperous future for the country with our sovereignty regained. Do let us stop insulting one another and get on with helping to build a bright future.

Wendy Hands

Upton-on-Severn

Young people need to vote

SIR – JUST 13 months ago I stood in the hall at the Royal Grammar School along with representatives from all our major political parties, trying to persuade the young people in the audience to use their vote in the forthcoming General Election. Trying to point out to them that groups who consistently don’t vote, or who vote in relatively small numbers, will have difficulty keeping their needs and desires at the top of any political agenda.

A referendum is more direct than an election as it is a vote for a policy or course of action rather than a person (or government). And every vote counts equally in a referendum, unlike an election where votes are cast in differing constituencies.

Last Thursday only about 35% of young people bothered to vote, while the turnout for all the older age groups was much higher. Yet it is those young people whose turnout was so low who are now the most disappointed and distressed.

If this result ensures that young people become more engaged with the political process and take control of their future by voting, then there will have been at least one good outcome from the referendum.

Liz Smith

Claines

MPs wrong to target leader

SIR – SOON after the EU referendum result the lies that the Leave campaign repeated began to unravel. It appears that Boris Johnson had not anticipated that ‘Brexit’ would occur and chose to leave the mess for someone else to deal with.

While this is shameful and infuriating, so are certain Labour MPs’ attempts to undermine Jeremy Corbyn. He was elected by the majority of the membership and, like the Green Party, has consistently campaigned against ‘austerity’ – the core cause of our economic problems, not immigration. Do those Labour MPs, and others who are calling for his resignation, not see that the country is crying out for an alternative to the austerity-promoting, fear-mongering powers that be?

And where were all the Labour resignations when Tony Blair led the party into an illegal war that killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis? Instead of jostling for position in a New Labour government that may never happen, they should be working with others to build a positive alternative.

Neil Laurenson

Worcester Green Party

Trade future looking good

SIR – SOME points, following the sky NOT falling in last week.

Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and the US have all stated their desire for trade deals with the UK, as soon as possible following Brexit. It’s the opposite of what Remainians and Obama told us last month. Our Antipodean cousins even said they’ll race each other to get the first deal! Similarly, the Confederation of German Industries and French Government both stressed the need for continued, unfettered trade with the UK. Is this a trend...?

Look at the world’s stock markets: All were trading lower on the day after the Brexit vote. Yet now, the UK’s FTSE 100 is trading HIGHER and the DowJones has recovered most of last week’s losses. Instead, it’s EU markets that flounder: The French CAC40 and German Dax. Why? Perhaps because the EU must soon fill the gap left by our excessive contributions once we leave. As a wise man once said: ‘Oh dear, how sad, never mind’. Add to this the news that China’s biggest online retailers highlighted Brexit as a huge opportunity for trade and we start to see an increasingly pleasant picture of a trading future outside the EU. It’s time for the prophets of doom to put down their pens and ‘man up’. We voted. It happened. We move forward. Let’s make the best of it together, in the next step in our wonderful country’s history.

Owen Cleary

UKIP Worcester

Attacks are simply untrue

SIR – BRIAN Hunt’s letter (July 1) attacking Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond was as unfair as it was untrue.

He claims that after the independence referendum that Salmond “ran away”. This is totally untrue.

The fact is that he brought his vast experience and towering intellect to the palace of Westminster to mentor a largely inexperienced number of the vast new intake of SNP MPs.

His attack on Sturgeon ignores one vital point that over 60% of the Scottish electorate voted to Remain and they are being torn out of the EU against their democratic will. As first minister she is rightly exploring every avenue to achieve their wish. She is doing that by any method including the possibility of a second independence referendum if need be if that proves to be the only avenue open to achieve the democratic will of the Scottish people.

In conclusion she has shown strong leadership since June 23. Compare that with the chaotic shambles our so called ‘leaders’ south of the border have managed.

Clive Smith

Malvern

MPs should represent us

SIR – SOME politicians still do not get it. We had a democratic vote on the EU and Brexit/Leave won.

Yet, over 400 MPs have the nerve to defy the democratic voice of the British people. But before they start they should heed one thing, the people who voted out, also vote in general elections, and might not like such childish-throw your toys out of the pram behaviour.

We vote for MPs to represent us, not bully us to get their own way. MPs are there to do a public service, so get on with it and not your own little gravy train.

B Ellis

Leominster

We have our country back

SIR - I WAS over the moon on hearing we won the vote on leaving the EU. Being in it I felt it wasn’t our country and we didn’t have any say. Most of Wales and Scotland voted to stay in. I think they are still living in the Dark Ages and think they’re at war with us. We are all one island and should stick together. Things have got in such a mess but surely we can stop it getting worse.

I think Nigel Farage would make a good Prime Minister, he’s for the British people and Britain. I’m sure our ancestors will be proud of us this day. PS. It feels like 1945 again and being told it’s victory!

AG MacDONALD

Worcester