BREXITERS won the referendum on a very narrow margin because they convinced Leave voters that falling living standards were due to EU membership rather than down to Tory government austerity.

Many Labour voters turned to Ukip because Labour failed to refute the politics of austerity by making clear that this was a political choice, not an economic one, which made it impossible for us to grow our way out of debt as we did post Second World War.

Investment in public capital has fallen by more than 50 per cent since 1983 and the consequent erosion of our public services is down to UK government decisions, not down to our membership of the EU.

Our politicians must choose how much we spend on health and present this choice to the electorate.

Capital account expenditures should be increased back to 1960s levels as they have the potential to pay for themselves through increased productivity.

There is a strong argument to consider education at all levels to be capital expenditure as education is an investment in the British people from which we all gain.

A major factor driving immigration into this country is the lack of skills needed to overcome our productivity deficit.

The chancellor’s autumn statement makes very clear that the £59bn cost of Brexit is simply not affordable, and will hit the poorest the hardest, yet Theresa May is still determined to press ahead in leading us over this suicidal economic cliff.

The prime minister has a constitutional duty to govern on behalf of all of us in the best interests of the country, not in the interests of members of her party who sold Leave voters a false prospectus for their own political advancement.

The people of Hartlepool, for example, voted Brexit because they wanted their hospital back, but now it’s clear that even more hospitals will close.

Ukip, with only one MP, should not dictate government policy.

The PM may owe her position to Brexit but she needs to find the courage of her convictions and not trigger article 50.

Margaret Phelps

Raisdale Gardens

Penarth