RM Robinson says that I should get my facts straight before criticising former Ukip leader Nigel Farage for his conduct in the Brexit campaign (D&S, Jul 22).

I don’t expect to convince him of my stance on the matter, any more than he is likely to persuade me of his in what is likely to be a continuingly acrimonious debate between the leavers and stayers. I would just make a couple of points and then leave it at that.

Mr Robinson accuses me of making a “loftily disdainful reference” to Ukip’s Breaking Point poster which showed refugees crossing the Croatia-Slovenia border in 2015.

Contrary to his assertion that they were “making their way to Europe by invitation of Angela Merkel” they were, in fact, desperately fleeing conflict and destruction in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East.

Mrs Merkel’s attempt to address the problem, and provide some sanctuary for them, was the sort of humanitarian approach all too sadly lacking in this country at present.

Mr Robinson also comments that Barningham, where I live, is “a very nice village with many large houses” (it is, though it also has many small houses) and that therefore I would no doubt “welcome the arrival of thousands of fit young men of North African origin who decide to come and settle there”. This does not justify any response beyond saying that it is a cheap point and, for obvious reasons, an unpleasant one.

Robin Brooks, Barningham