• MAY I reassure correspondents such as Michael McElligott that I do accept the 2016 referendum decision that “we voted to leave lock, stock and barrel”, (From Corbyn’s perspective it’s a good thing we are leaving the EU, November 9).

Lock – would those be the locks and other car components that come through Dover every day of the week to supply our successful motor industry, which assembles the cars, half of which we then sell back into the EU?

Stock – would those be the million-plus people of British stock who have retired to or otherwise settled in Europe and who risk losing local health care and might have to return home in the event of a hard Brexit?

Barrel – and that, I assume, would be the barrel of the gun down which some people in Northern Ireland will be staring if Brexit leads to the end of the Good Friday Agreement.

If we have a second vote, I will be content if the vote confirms “leave”, but I do need to be reassured that the British people really understand what they have voted for – lock, stock and barrel.

JOHN WHITEHEAD
Barbican, EC2