Martin McGowan-Scanlon, of Bay View Estate, Stoke Fleming, writes:

I write in response to the two letters regarding Brexit, Gazette, November 11. The final paragraph of Mr Lloyd’s letter is ridiculous, suggesting that had capital punishment not been abolished then Theresa May would be executed because she has failed to cave in to his views. What inflammatory guff.

But Mr Sturdee writes about hard and soft Brexit, and I can only conclude that he has never negotiated anything in his life.

Negotiation is a process designed to bring two or more disagreeing parties together with a view to reaching a ­resolution acceptable to all. There have been many calls from various people for the Government to state its position before negotiations begin.

I have negotiated for many years in such diverse situations as hostage release and business deals, and the only time I have ever told the other party what my was bottom line is at the start, was when I was absolutely prepared to walk away with nothing. The start position must be hard Brexit, full access to the single market, no contribution to the EU, full control of immigration, complete sovereignty – ie all the good bits without any cost. Who could complain if we achieved all that? Then the negotiations can begin.

The argument about Parliament having a vote is about triggering Article 50, not about voting on the terms of the negotiation, as these two gentlemen would have you believe.

What they and Messrs Clegg and Farron actually mean is that the result of the popular vote was not what they wanted, therefore they will do all they can to block the will of the majority, starting with spurious demands for publication of the bottom line of the negotiating position prior to its start.

The information from the Government pre-referendum, clearly said: ‘It’s your vote and the Government will implement your decision.’ It is something politicians, including our own flip-flopping representative, would do well to consider before the election, which I have no doubt will follow shortly.

We voted to join the Common Market, not give away sovereignty to an unelected EU. Closer political union never works – just look at Yugoslavia and the USSR.

Those who wanted to remain in the EU will have another opportunity for a further referendum in around 41 years, which is just as long as those of us who wanted out have ­waited.

Finally, Nicola Sturgeon, commenting on the US election, said that while it was not the result she wanted, she respected the will of the US electorate.

Rank hypocrisy, which is what has appalled me more than anything in this whole process. That and the hideous language about people with a different view from those who voted remain, of which ‘soft in the head’ is the mildest.