Lords last resort of rationality

Sir, – The House of Lords has passed a raft of amendments which, while they don’t actually contradict the principle of EU withdrawal, attempt to infuse some rationality into this deranged venture.

The most significant of these was the “Cliff Edge Avoidance Amendment” which will prevent the May Government walking away from negotiations next year if MPs reject the deal.

Brexit and Holyrood have both shown the necessity in the legislative process of a revising chamber composed of veteran politicians who are unafraid of government bullies.

In the absence of a functioning opposition, we need somebody with the gumption to challenge Tory backwoodsmen who believe mutually assured destruction is preferable to rational compromise.

They claim we voted to leave the single market and the customs union. Nonsense. The EU referendum said nothing about trading arrangements.

Hard Brexit is the postimperial fantasy of a Neanderthal clique who think we can return to our imperial past. It shouldn’t require the unelected lords to remind Mrs May it is her responsibility to stop them driving us over a cliff.

Rev Dr John Cameron. Howard Place, St Andrews.