Brexit and Wales

Sir, – It is a pity that Nicholas Boyle's otherwise excellent article ("Brexit is really a collective English mental breakdown", Opinion & Analysis, January 16th) is spoiled by the complete neglect of Wales, which like England voted to leave the EU. The South Wales valleys contain some of the most deprived areas in Europe, as well as being among the principal recipients of EU funding, yet voted to leave, with only cities like Cardiff, and the rural area of Gwynedd, voting to remain. Many reasons can be tentatively advanced for this – the Anglicisation of the country, despite its distinct language, the effect of propaganda in the overwhelmingly Eurosceptic press – but ignoring Wales entirely, or by omission conflating it with England, rather undermines what is in other respects a perceptive analysis by Prof Boyle. – Yours, etc,

BILL REDMOND,

Edinburgh.