Poll on Holyrood?

British people, not by Whitehall bureaucrats, certainly not by Brussels Eurocrats; not even by government ministers or parliamentarians in this chamber. The decision must be for the common sense of the British people.”

The act itself did not say that the referendum was advisory. As the Supreme Court’s president, Lord Neuberger, stated on 7 December, “Advisory’ is not in the statute.” He continued, “This act may be enough for the government to say: parliament has ceded the issue, as far as parliament is concerned, to the people; we can now go ahead.”

Parliament decided to let the people decide. It did not promise to hold an advisory poll, with parliament left to take the final decision. Nothing in the act suggested that the government should start to implement a decision to “leave” only if parliament gave it permission to do so.

The government leaflet distributed to all households stated: “The referendum on Thursday 23rd June is your chance to decide if we should remain in or leave the European Union. This is your decision. The government will implement what you decide.”

The Britain Stronger in Europe campaign agreed. Its leaflet said: “On 23rd June, you will get to vote in the EU referendum, and decide whether Britain remains in or leaves Europe.” WILLIAM PODMORE

Wanstead, London The poor quality of government coming from Holyrood over the last ten years should be put to the test by giving the people a referendum proposing to abandon it as a wasteful additional layer of government that is consistently failing to perform for the nation. DENNIS FORBES GRATTAN Mugiemoss Road, Bucksburn They never learn do they? You don’t raise the level of taxes, you raise more tax by creating more jobs and businesses and incentives – ie more taxpayers! – Archie Bunker If the SNP Government cannot pass its budget, the SNP could be forced to call an early Holyrood election… so can we rely on all to vote against and no I am sick of garbage about “hard-working” taxpayers, most only go to work because they have to and are exploited by capitalist bosses. That’s all goany change after indy in 2017. – stantheman At last the penny might drop for those who support this bunch of economic illiterates who have no idea how to grow an economy – the font