I WONDER if any of you heard John Humphrey's cleverly formulated interview with Varoufakis and a former Polish minister about the Brexit negotiations on the TODAY programme on October 19.

Humphreys invited them to comment on the lack of progress to which the former Greek finance minister averred as well he might following his own grim experience. Then the Polish gentleman told us that Europe's share of Britain's trade is 47 per cent whilst the UK represents only 15 per cent of the EU economy, and that trading according to WTO rules wouldn't help Britain because the EU's regulations are unfavourable to Britain's service sector.

Incidentally the broader public is unaware that membership of the EU benefits only very marginally the export of the UK's services to the EU which ought to be a scandal and another reason for Britain to secede.

The inference which Humphreys didn't challenge because they had 'run out of time' is that trade between Britain and the EU would come to a standstill if there was no 'deal' and that there is no alternative to EU membership.

Indeed, the Pole suggested, rather gleefully I thought, that Brussels would continue 'to give Britain the run-a-round' and that Britain should rescind article 50!

Both the ex-Polish minister and Varoufakis will know there is no reason why Europe(ans) shouldn't trade with this country since Britain isn't a pariah state (and doesn't for instance run an apartheid regime) and that trade is conducted between companies and individuals and not by governments; thus their argument is flawed. Incidentally the word 'deal' is misleading since the UK presently trades with 111 countries including the USA, Indian and China with whom deals have yet to be

arranged.

Despite all of the above this edition of TODAY pushed rather too effectively the impression to the general public that there is no alternative to trading with Europe except as a member of the EU, a perception which we must all endeavour to change.

David Booth, via email