Mike Joslin (Have Your Say, December 27) states that in the Brexit referendum 64 per cent of the over 55s voted Leave whilst 80 per cent of the under 24s voted Remain.

He then asks the question "How does this imply faith in the young?

Can I remind Mr Joslin that throughout history the opinion of the elders has been sought out purely because they are elderly.

By definition they have much more experience of life than the young.

The current elderly have lived through the second world war, the austerity of the after war years, the new freedoms of the sixties, they voted to join the common market, they saw John Major deny them a vote when the common market became the political EU.

They have seen alternate Tory and Labour Governments through good times and bad.

They have seen the EU force the Greek economy into a 25 per cent reduction over eight years.

They watched incredulously when Tony Blair took the country to war and Gordon Brown wrecked the economy.

They have seen youth unemployment in Greece and Spain hit 50 per cent and perfectly good fish killed and then thrown back and wondered why anyone can support this ridiculous EU.

By comparison the young have only seen one political situation, the restrictive EU coupled with a Tory Government forced into austerity by Labour's overspending.

How can any generation be expected to make a balanced decision when their age leaves them with such a narrow viewpoint?

I have every confidence in this generation. But to rate the opinions of these comparatively inexperienced young people over the older generations that have seen so much, no definitely not.

PETER WILLIAMS

Weymouth