In their political intervention, the Russell Group and other university organisations are confusing the constitutionally damaging withdrawal agreement, which must be voted down, with the future partnership, which is yet to be agreed (Universities sector fears ‘biggest threat’ of no-deal exit, 4 January).

British universities are the strongest and most attractive in Europe. With a clean sovereign Brexit, British universities get the best of both worlds. They escape the European commission’s shackles imposed through the withdrawal agreement and, like other successful third-party countries (Israel, Norway and Switzerland, for example), can participate in EU programmes like Horizon 2020 at will.

Now is the moment to tell the EU that the UK will be a close partner in academic research in the same way as 15 non-EU nation states are at present and that the UK will pay its way, as we did before. This is a win-win situation which does not require the UK to surrender sovereignty or accept destructive conditions.

The idea that whole countries should be forced into political servitude in order to qualify for academic or scientific mutual exchange is ridiculous, illogical and completely without evidence. No country has ever had to accept this from the EU before. The first major act of the May government was to pledge to support a Swiss-style payment into mutual academic research programmes, which answers the Russell Group’s funding complaints. In content and timing, the university organisations’ letter to MPs has “Project Fear” Mark IV’s fingerprints all over it. It should be seen for what it is and ignored.

Baroness Deech House of Lords and former principal of St Anne’s College, Oxford

Professor Nigel Biggar Regius professor of moral and pastoral theology, University of Oxford

Professor David Coleman Emeritus professor of demography, University of Oxford

Dr Philip Cunliffe Dept of Politics & International Relations, University of Kent

Professor Angus Dalgleish Foundation professor of oncology, St George’s, University of London

Professor Robin Dunbar Professor of evolutionary psychology, University of Oxford

Professor AWF Edwards Emeritus professor of biometry, University of Cambridge

Professor Paul Elbourne Professor of the philosophy of language, University of Oxford

Dr Graham Gudgin Centre for business research, University of Cambridge

Professor Rudolf Hanka University of Cambridge and chief scientific adviser to the PM of the Czech Republic

Dr Lee Jones Reader in international politics, Queen Mary University of London

Professor Gwythian Prins Emeritus research professor, London School of Economics

Dr DH Robinson Fellow in history, Magdalen College, Oxford

Professor Robert Tombs Emeritus professor of french history, University of Cambridge

Dr Ian Winter Neuroscientist, University of Cambridge

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