Brexit won’t make us self-sufficient

Dear Sir,

It might be thought that leaving the EU would make us more self-sufficient in the long run.

This is because our basic necessities will come from a wider variety of sources, further away than presently.

This will make our food, medical and other essential supplies less secure, especially if there is conflict or other barriers to trade on a wide scale.

This might be a good thing except that it is not given that we will respond in this way; we might just seek to make the best deals we can in a more ad hoc way.

This in turn will mean that life will become more uncertain and trade will become more transactional-based with more rules, disputes, sanctions and conflict.

Better to retain our existing arrangements with our neighbours with whom we have more trusting relationships and who generally follow the rule of law.

Yours faithfully,

(DR) PETER HIRST