One reader disagreed wholeheartedly with the comments made about Brexit by columnist Steven Downes.

It was disappointing to see that you published the article by Steven Downes.

MORE: A new colour passport... not much of a victory, is it?It was very offensive, included many unsavoury comments and was not in keeping with your usual very high editorial standards.

Although we live in a democracy with the right of free speech, I do not believe that some of the comments included in this piece have any place in a civilised debate. As well as being untrue, they were an insult to the 17 million people who voted to leave the EU. They also imply a contempt of anything with which the writer does not agree.

I believe that the majority of the people who voted for Brexit were thinking of the future not the past. A future for not just themselves but their children and one where we can escape the economic and political straight-jacket that the EU has become.

Editor's note: Steve Downes is one of our most popular columnists. Not because everyone agrees with him, but because he provokes debate. The views of our columnists do not purport to be the views of the EDP and never have done. We would gladly welcome submissions of potential columns giving the other side to the Brexit debate.