THE courage of Keith Townsend and Tony Mason in speaking out is to be commended. (Letters, June 28) They are right; what we have done to our children is despicable and shame and apology are truly appropriate.

But shame is a terrible burden and will prove corrosive if prolonged.

The referendum has already divided us.

We cannot afford to hand it a second victory by allowing it to promote hatred.

The campaign was a scam for which we all fell.

Everything we heard only reinforced our pre-existing attitudes.

So, time to admit shame, time to apologise to our children, and time to work out how we are going to cope with a country that is now totally different to what it was a week ago.

And the next time you see Oliver Letwin or Richard Drax, just tell them that, actually, they lost.

David Williams

Holworth

Dorchester