Reopening the Brexit debate would be a serious mistake.
Politics is already divisive enough without dragging the country back into the bitter arguments of the last decade.
Some committed Remainers continue to cherry-pick opinion polls to claim there is a groundswell for rejoining the European Union, but support often evaporates when voters are asked what powers they would be willing to surrender in return.
Most people have little appetite for handing law-making authority back to Brussels.
Brexit was never solely about economics; it was fundamentally about sovereignty.
Many Leave voters accepted that there could be economic costs if it meant restoring democratic control over laws, borders and trade policy.
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Yet the economic picture is far less clear-cut than critics suggest.
Since the 2016 referendum, the UK economy has grown broadly in line with several major European economies.
Germany and Italy have both experienced sluggish growth, while Europe as a whole has faced challenges ranging from the pandemic to the energy crisis.
To blame every economic problem on Brexit is simply not credible.
Nor has British trade collapsed as frequently predicted.
UK exports to the EU remain substantial, while Britain has secured trade agreements with countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Singapore, and joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Whatever one’s view of Brexit, these agreements have been negotiated independently rather than under the authority of EU institutions.
The European Union itself faces significant challenges.
Economic growth across much of the bloc remains weak, regulatory burdens continue to grow, and there are ongoing debates over migration, energy policy and future political integration.
Rejoining would not mean returning to the Europe of 2016, let alone the Europe of previous decades.
It would almost certainly involve accepting terms less favourable than those Britain previously enjoyed.
Rather than reopening old wounds, the Government should focus on making Brexit work as effectively as possible and addressing the many domestic challenges facing the country.
The public wants solutions to problems such as economic growth, housing, healthcare and public services, not another round of constitutional warfare.
Roman Jones, Welshpool
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