SIR - The son of a friend of mine is involved in trade, sorting out supply problems for his clients. He reports that Brexit is causing bottlenecks and delays. Last month it was scaffolding, this month it is steel (specifically rolled steel joists). He is adamant that it is Brexit that is the problem and not Covid.

This is just evidence at the anecdotal level. But confirmation comes from two surveys.

An ONS trade report comparing the first quarter of 2021 with the first quarter of 2018 finds that trade with the EU had fallen by 23.1per cent whilst trade with non-EU countries had fallen by 0.8per cent only.

Secondly a survey carried out by the trade journal The HR Director found that 56per cent of UK businesses reported that Brexit had had a negative impact whilst a meagre five per cent reported that Brexit had had a positive effect.

Is this “Project Fear” coming home to roost?

It is high time that those who voted for Brexit and continue to support it had the intellectual honesty to own up to the huge damage they are causing.

John Cole, Oakroyd Terrace, Baildon