UK democratic deficit

Sir, I had to chuckle when I heard Prime Minister Theresa May and Ruth Davidson talk about the economic division and uncertainty caused by another independence referendum. These are the same individuals now dragooning Scotland out of the European Union, against its will, leading to exactly that.

In the run up to the last independence referendum we were told that Scotland should be leading, not leaving the UK, that the UK was a union of equals.

When Mrs May came to Scotland and met with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in July last year she commented that negotiations with the EU over Brexit would not start until there was an agreed UK position involving the devolved administrations.

Fast forward nine months and a hard Brexit is to be pursued, with no agreed UK position and the diminished prospects of a Brexit dividend in the shape of more powers for the Scottish Parliament. So much for Scotland leading the UK and this being a partnership of equals.

The next independence referendum however must be much bigger than simply the EU question.

There is a clear democratic deficit, with a UK government with one Tory MP in Scotland doing what it wants, whatever the wishes of the Scottish people. With the Labour Party in disarray this scenario is not likely to change for some time. Ultimately, however what the Brexit vote highlights is the more fundamental issue of who we want to make decisions for us and what sort of country we want to live in.

Do we want decisions about Scotland made at Westminster, or do we want all decisions about Scotland made at Holyrood by a government we have elected? Alex Orr, Edinburgh