SIR - What a strange letter from Professor Nigel Young (Craven Herald, August 8 Disappointed our MP has taken this role) expressing his dismay at our MP Julian Smith joining the new Cabinet.

As Deputy Chairman of Skipton and Ripon Conservative Association, I am delighted that our excellent MP has been appointed to such an important role as Northern Ireland Secretary. Julian was a 'remain' supporter in the referendum whereas I was a 'leave' supporter. He has accepted that it is now the role of Government and indeed Parliament to implement the wishes expressed by the clear majority of voters with the highest ever vote in this country.

Unfortunately Professor Young misrepresents the position of the Government in his letter. He says it wants to have a drastic abandonment of our partnership with the other 27 members of the EU. It does not. It wants a continuing good relationship with all the other EU countries but also with other non-EU countries. It wants a sensible deal agreed with the EU. It does not want, as Professor Young alleges, a hard border with Ireland. Our Government has consistently said it will not create a hard border. Let us remember it is the EU which would impose this to protect its single market and customs union. There must be a common-sense solution but it requires the EU to recognise that the British Parliament will not accept the backstop as has been shown three times.

Then Professor Young argues that there is a threat to parliamentary democracy by ignoring the will of elected MPs. In fact, it is remain MPs and a left-wing Labour Party, looking only for party advantage, who seek to ignore the will of the people, a far bigger threat to democracy, in spite of both main parties fighting a General Election since the referendum saying they would uphold its result.

John Dawson

Gainsborough Court

Skipton