Readers try to make sense of what the last-minute deal will mean for the future
So a deal is done, and pro-EU advocates must accept we’ve left. The question for us is, what next? We can’t just mourn what we’ve lost, nor expect this government to take into account our views, our damage and sadness – it hasn’t done so thus far. There’s still a case to be made for close cooperation not only for the national interest but also to promote a deeper understanding among Britons of our common European future.
Whether the UK government helps or not, we as citizens and civil society must explore how to maintain cross-border connectivity politically, culturally, economically and socially for the sake of our industries, sectors, cities and communities. This is especially true for the next generation, who need access to other perspectives through European exchanges and educational projects. Brexit, if nothing else, marked a failure of imagination. We owe it to our youth to continue to expand our horizons and refuse to allow the Brexit project to dictate the kind of people we are and the lives we want to lead as both Britons and Europeans.
Sandra Khadhouri
London
