Fair, then foul

Euan Mccolm (Perspective, 18 July) writes a fair article about Tony Blair, and the abuse heaped upon him, and how this distracts from the important things Blair has to say. Why then, does Mccolm spoil the article by using abuse against others, in this case, Brexiteers, when he refers to them as spivs, ideologues, and racists?

If Mccolm does not understand that there are important arguments against the EU, eg, on democracy, on sovereignty, on economics, then he should not be putting pen to paper! WILLIAM BALLANTINE Dean Road

Bo’ness Euan Mccolm was sensible in suggesting that Blair deserves to be heard – if only because our modern politicians have united in promising to deliver a damaging Brexit. But he is wrong to dismiss Labour as an irrelevance.

Firstly, eight out of ten Labour members support a Remain view, and Jeremy Corbyn is committed to listening to members. Secondly, Labour has been complimented on having a careful neutrality on Brexit thus far – helping the party hold on to seats which were Ukip leaning, and leaving the Tories in their own stew.

If the Tory majority had been maintained in the recent election, we would now have strong and stable Brexiteers proudly leading us to a cliff edge Brexit. Labour’s policy is to keep all options on the table while achieving a soft Brexit. Labour is therefore not saddled with inflexible pledges, so faced with a tough deal will be quite capable of a fall-back position of a Norway deal, or even putting the thing to bed with a second referendum.

That’s why forcing the Tories into another election soon does not worry me. The idea that the last referendum, with its lies, hysterical press and narrow victory for Leave, represents the settled will of the British people is nonsense and shows that what we have now in this era is really a lack of historical perspective which puts democracy in peril.

ANDREW VASS Corbiehill Place, Edinburgh