I HAVE been disappointed by the tone of some of the discussion over the last couple of weeks over the dreaded issue of Brexit.

We are all patriots and want the best for our country. My concern, which is shared by many Remainers and Leavers, is that the Conservative government’s negotiating position is chaotic, and will lead to a disastrous Brexit.

Calling it smoking mirrors is too generous. Meanwhile, the Labour opposition is too busy posturing, and its leadership was promising the earth to both Remainers and Leavers at the general election.

The problem for us all is that the EU referendum, with its simple yes or no, was just the start of a process. The negotiations are throwing up all sorts of issues, and the devil is in the detail. I am convinced that the final detailed proposals will throw up hard implications for our pockets, our jobs and our democracy.

There is no doubt that the final deal will satisfy neither Leavers nor Remainers, and both will feel betrayed. In the meantime, to get there the Conservative government is carrying out a series of measures that grab power from parliament and puts it in the hands of ministers. We are not taking back control, we are giving it to the government in a country which already has one of the most centralised political systems in Europe. This is not what we voted for in the EU referendum.

Luigi Gregori, Charlton Road, Andover