I AM puzzled by Ron Kirby’s claim of “bullying” by the EU.

Those wishing to leave the EU have always been clear that they understood what they were asking for. The EU has rules which we have signed up to and, indeed, over forty years have helped to create. We are also fully aware of the terms of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, since we negotiated and agreed it.

The EU is merely insisting that there are agreements and obligations that remain, notwithstanding secession from the EU and, furthermore, we can’t expect to leave while retaining the biggest benefits of membership. Our negotiating position has from the start been vitiated by arrogance and dishonesty and, if anything, it is the UK that is attempting to bully the EU, an absurd enterprise which is viewed abroad with a mixture of amusement, dismay, and bafflement. We are damaging our international reputation.

Across the Atlantic, Mr Trump has unilaterally ripped up the North American Free Trade Agreement and forced Mexico to sign up to a much less beneficial version, with Canada now being forced to follow suit.

Mr Kirby (and the rest of us) might well find out what bullying is when we have left the relative protection of the EU. On a broader political front, we should clearly be wary of putting our trust in the US in the way that we have become accustomed to.

BARRY TEMPEST

Romulus Close

Dorchester