COUNCILLOR Liz Wade, leader of the Lib Dem city councillors, fails to accept the recent referendum results and vilifies our two elected MPs, Andrew Smith and Nicola Blackwood, for supporting the Government’s Brexit Bill (Oxford Mail, February15).

I wholeheartedly praise them for acting according to the wishes of the electorate.  David Cameron did try to obtain some amendments to the European laws before holding the referendum but failed to get any assurances from the European leaders and came back with a blank sheet.

Councillor Wade appears to have forgotten that the Lib Dem party joined with the Conservatives to form a coalition government before the last General Election.  Most of the disenchantment with the European Union came about at that time which prompted the Conservatives to offer in their mandate a referendum giving the electorate the choice to say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to remaining as a member of the EU.

The critical issue regarding EU citizens living and working in the UK is not being used as bargaining counters, as Councillor Wade suggests. All it requires are guarantees from both the European Union as well as the United Kingdom that the rights of people who have already moved and settled will be upheld.

Should we leave the EU without agreement on this issue, it would be up to individuals to obtain visas and apply for work permits. When the time comes for the UK to finally exit the EU, any British person wanting to work in a European country will be required to obtain these documents. They will also have the option of applying for citizenship of the country in which they choose to live.

VIM RODRIGO

Rivermead Road, Oxford