I find myself in disagreement with the Guardian’s editorial where it argues that Keir Starmer is “right to back the deal”. Under its last leader, Labour failed the British people by not wholeheartedly opposing Brexit. Had Jeremy Corbyn mustered the commitment to lead the remain cause, Labour might well not have lost anything like the 50-odd leave seats it did in the last election. Labour is, thankfully, under new management and we know where the hearts of Keir Starmer, Anneliese Dodds and Emily Thornberry lie. They are Europeans, through and through. They must now have the courage of their convictions. They know that Brexit is fuelled by dubious money, dodgy argument, a focus on spurious “sovereignty” and elements of racism. A comparison of the speeches of Ursula von der Leyen and Boris Johnson summed up why Christmas Eve was such a shaming day. Von der Leyen spoke with feeling, vision and deep seriousness, Johnson with his usual silliness. Britain needs to repair the damage as soon as it can. It needs to rejoin the EU at the first opportunity, and Labour must make the case unequivocally. It must begin by abstaining in the vote on what must be seen as solely a Tory deal. David Curtis Solihull, West Midlands • The erection of a virtual border in the Irish Sea has been presented as an administrative matter of interest only to those trading between Great Britain and Ireland. But for one section of UK citizens it goes much further. Pet owners wanting to travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain after 31 December will have to have their dog, cat or ferret microchipped and vaccinated against rabies, a disease not present in either Ireland or Great Britain, get an animal health certificate and wait 21 days before travel (at an estimated cost of over £100). And before entering or returning to Northern Ireland, those with a dog must visit a vet to get a treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis, a parasite not present in either Great Britain or Ireland, at a further cost of £30 to £40. And for those of us who sail our own boats, taking our pet with us will make stopping off in Northern Ireland illegal. The scheme restricts entry to travellers’ ports of entry – only Belfast and Larne, which, unless I am mistaken, will only accept entry by ferry. It rules out Bangor or Carrickfergus marinas. The result is that Northern Ireland is now out of bounds to me, a citizen of the UK, as I sail from Wales to Scotland. So much for “no border in the Irish Sea”. Derek Lumb Vice-president, Cruising Association • I am astonished that in your summary (From tariffs to visas: here’s what’s in the Brexit deal, 24 December) you make no specific mention of how the agreement affects financial services (7% or so of our GDP). Contrast that with fisheries, which has its own section (at a reported 0.1% of GDP). I understand that discussions involving equivalence rights are to be continued, but clearly this a large bone still to be fought over, with powerful players. Was this an oversight or are you just trying to keep up our spirits in the post-Christmas torpor? Ian Bartlett East Molesey, Surrey • I have been teaching French and Spanish for 37 years and see first-hand the benefits of the Erasmus scheme (UK students lose Erasmus membership in Brexit deal, 24 December). Hundreds of my students, and indeed my sons, have been able to study in Europe, and I have been amazed at how much they have matured as a result. Many students will not be able to travel without Erasmus. Last month, we had a 20-year-old German staying with us – a wonderful ambassador for his country. He may not have been able to come to England without support. This decision will hamper the futures of thousands of British and EU students. David Huggon Head of Spanish, The Sixth Form College, Colchester • Naming the (currently nonexistent) Erasmus replacement after Alan Turing is wonderfully appropriate. Turing was a talented mathematician who served his country with distinction. His academic career, and life, were destroyed by the callous actions of a bigoted government. Geoff Johnstone Malvern, Worcestershire • For a speaker whose pronouncements swing between ill-judged overstatement at best and utter cant at worst, the prime minister’s appropriation of “glad tidings of great joy”, the message of the angels about the nativity, was a new rhetorical low (Report, 25 December). Brenda Buchanan-Smith Weybridge, Surrey • So the Brexit deal is Boris Johnson’s Christmas gift to the nation. One of those rubbish children’s presents that stop working by the end of Boxing Day then. Dave Hanson Hull • Boris Johnson described the Brexit agreement as finding the philosopher’s stone, believed to have the power to turn base metal into gold. It never existed, but the idea was exploited by alchemists to cheat a gullible public. Many a true word… Florence Rayner Sheffield