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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/nov/13/no-reason-to-apologise-to-xenophobic-leavers
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| No reason to apologise to xenophobic leavers | No reason to apologise to xenophobic leavers |
| (21 days later) | |
| Letters | Letters |
| Mon 13 Nov 2017 19.02 GMT | Mon 13 Nov 2017 19.02 GMT |
| Last modified on Wed 14 Feb 2018 15.30 GMT | |
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| Brian Forsdick says he voted Brexit for good reasons but now he sees a good Brexit is not possible (Letters, 13 November); if only remain politicians were to apologise for their errors, Brexiters would then change their minds. So, people who were right have to apologise so that people who were wrong can feel better – without in turn apologising for bringing the country to great economic loss because of their xenophobia, isolationism, exceptionalism, and all the other worthy feelings behind their pro-Brexit votes.Guill GilLondon | Brian Forsdick says he voted Brexit for good reasons but now he sees a good Brexit is not possible (Letters, 13 November); if only remain politicians were to apologise for their errors, Brexiters would then change their minds. So, people who were right have to apologise so that people who were wrong can feel better – without in turn apologising for bringing the country to great economic loss because of their xenophobia, isolationism, exceptionalism, and all the other worthy feelings behind their pro-Brexit votes.Guill GilLondon |
| • So if prominent remainers apologise to angry leavers, Brexit can still be avoided? Nothing to do with the media-hugging fanatic Farage and weak-minded, cowardly Cameron for calling the referendum in the first place? Bloody-minded Brexit voters have to be cosseted and cuddled to avoid disaster. I don’t quite see the logic of this. Theresa May, Gove, Johnson and many in her minority government are firmly on the side of Brexit. If prominent remainers apologise (to whom and how?), it won’t make an iota of difference. The rest of us don’t matter. Of course there is much obstinacy, blindness and arrogance in plunging ahead, but sadly, apologies won’t change this. | • So if prominent remainers apologise to angry leavers, Brexit can still be avoided? Nothing to do with the media-hugging fanatic Farage and weak-minded, cowardly Cameron for calling the referendum in the first place? Bloody-minded Brexit voters have to be cosseted and cuddled to avoid disaster. I don’t quite see the logic of this. Theresa May, Gove, Johnson and many in her minority government are firmly on the side of Brexit. If prominent remainers apologise (to whom and how?), it won’t make an iota of difference. The rest of us don’t matter. Of course there is much obstinacy, blindness and arrogance in plunging ahead, but sadly, apologies won’t change this. |
| Surely when voting in the referendum, it wasn’t that difficult to foresee the mess that the negotiations leaving the EU would become? Who thought it would be easy? Certainly not me. A messy and very expensive divorce from 27 countries can’t be finalised in such a short time period. | Surely when voting in the referendum, it wasn’t that difficult to foresee the mess that the negotiations leaving the EU would become? Who thought it would be easy? Certainly not me. A messy and very expensive divorce from 27 countries can’t be finalised in such a short time period. |
| Incidentally, all the letters published on this subject were written by British men. Don’t women and those of a different ethnic background or nationality have a voice on this particular subject?Patricia BorlenghiManningtree, Essex | Incidentally, all the letters published on this subject were written by British men. Don’t women and those of a different ethnic background or nationality have a voice on this particular subject?Patricia BorlenghiManningtree, Essex |
| • I suggest it might be more appropriate for Messrs Johnson and Gove to write a letter to the British people along the following lines: “In the lead up to last year’s referendum, we realise that we told you many lies, and that we failed to tell you that a vote for leave would make you poorer and would greatly diminish Britain’s status in the world. We apologise for our mendacious duplicity, will now resign our positions in the cabinet, and will return to the back benches, where we will maintain a Trappist-like silence for the foreseeable future.”Barry MellorLondon | • I suggest it might be more appropriate for Messrs Johnson and Gove to write a letter to the British people along the following lines: “In the lead up to last year’s referendum, we realise that we told you many lies, and that we failed to tell you that a vote for leave would make you poorer and would greatly diminish Britain’s status in the world. We apologise for our mendacious duplicity, will now resign our positions in the cabinet, and will return to the back benches, where we will maintain a Trappist-like silence for the foreseeable future.”Barry MellorLondon |
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| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
| Brexit | Brexit |
| European Union | European Union |
| Michael Gove | Michael Gove |
| Boris Johnson | Boris Johnson |
| Theresa May | Theresa May |
| letters | letters |
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