STUCK with his Socialist myopia pining to remain in the EU the Fly (Warrington Guardian, January 2) completely misses the reason why we voted to leave.

Three times he uses the word ‘you’ or ‘your’ seeking answers to how being outside the EU will be personally beneficial to us.

Many of us are not as self-centred as the Fly. Rather than thinking of self as the Fly does, he should consider what is good for democracy and society as a whole.

Many of us don’t concern ourselves with simple grubby economic matters and whether this or that will be more expensive.

We’re happy to suffer GDP being a percentage point or two lower for a period – and that’s certainly not a given.

No, what really matters and why we are particularly happy is that we will return to a democracy in which we can kick out those MPs who create new laws and regulations that we don’t like.

That is impossible in the EU where the unelected EU Commission has no democratic mandate and can’t be removed.

They originate and drive forward ever increasing new legislation while the European Parliament is a fig leaf of democracy.

However the Fly asks what benefits we might see.

As a nation we will save a substantial proportion of the £13 billion we currently pay. Under WTO rules shoes and clothing from the Far East and various foods will be cheaper when we’re free of the large tariffs imposed solely to protect EU producers, and free of the many EU directives, businesses will avoid time wasting bureaucracy and prosper creating new jobs and opportunities.

The Fly is naïve to think that with an ageing population and increasing life expectancy that the pension age can stay still.

How does he think the increasing bill should be paid for? Socialists are particularly adept at spending other people’s money so perhaps he is more comfortable with higher taxes rather than delaying the pension age.

However here is something that will disappoint him. I forecast that the Fixed Term Parliament Act will be abolished leaving the government to determine when general elections should take place.

As he says an interesting time but certainly not one about which he need be so unremittingly pessimistic.

CARL BERNSTEIN Stockton Heath