As a citizen that was part of the 48 per cent, 16m-plus who voted Remain in June 2016 I think ECS Cowdrey (Time to cotton on, Echo, Mar 31) should update himself with recent polls that show that a second referendum would reverse the result. Democracy has moved on.

The scientific community in Britain also voted Remain by a large majority because of their concerns about Brexit’s devastating effect on funding for scientific research. Can Mr. Cowdrey please explain what Professor Stephen Hawking’s atheism has got to do with the EU?!

He asks me ‘and people of my ilk’ to join together with helping to make that ‘bright and prosperous future.’

Like asking someone trying to talk a person down off a 200-metre ledge to suddenly change tack and shout: ‘go on then - jump!’

The hard Brexit that this Government favours is far from certain. 

So here’s five questions for all you single minded Brexiteers. How to prevent a hard border in Ireland without undermining the Good Friday Peace Agreement?

How to determine an immigration policy that doesn’t further undermine NHS recruitment? How do the Electoral Commission determine ‘electoral wrong doing’ by the Leave Campaign’s Referendum expenditure and what to do about it if proven? 

How to negotiate a ‘better trade deal’ with the EU than we’ve already got? And how to persuade the leadership that the Labour Party have got it entirely wrong on Europe and should be opposing a Tory lemming like rush to the cliffs of Brexit?

Stephen Hawking was one of Britain’s greatest thinkers. He was internationally recognised for his discoveries about the Universe. But most of all people respected him because he was ‘outward’ not ‘inward’ looking. 

He recognised the importance of nations working closely together in every sphere of human activity. Would that we could all embrace that ‘big mindedness’ in the next 12 months up to March 2019.

Richard Denton-White
Fortuneswell
Portland