A cliff-edge is not the pleasant coastal path imagined by Brexiteer hotheads

Victor Clements (‘There will be a Brexit deal – so stop panicking’, Letters, 13 September) makes everything sound simple.

In reality negotiators are on a cliff-edge as time runs out and both sides have had major disagreements.

Avaguedealmaybereached, but even Theresa May’s suggestions for it, (Chequers) accepts that it won’t include financial services.

And we have unsurprisingly just lost London’s status as the world’s leading financial centre).

But a vague deal still requires managing customs and tariff collection. On this Theresa May has to bend, as even the British public sees her plan as bizarre. But bending will be a humiliation to the Brexiteer hotheads.

For a long time now, neo-liberal Brexiteer economists have been arguing that the UK will grow by 7 per cent if we simply leave, plus we keep £39 billion. So a vague agreement just kicks the can down the road until the next cliff edge looms.

Cliff-edges are much loved by former Brexit minister David Davis – they apparently force concessions, but in reality allow little time for climbdowns.

As long as Brexiteers say ‘no to project fear’ they can be convinced that cliffs are just a pleasant coastal path.

So those leaders of industry who claim a no-deal is quite possible should not be dismissed as ‘the usual suspects’ –Remainist propagandists.

ANDREW VASS Corbiehill Place, Edinburgh

Further to Boris Johnson’s latest outburst and the continuing distorted Brexiteer thinking, let one thing be clear, the UK is already independent.

Like any other member state of the EU, the UK sets its own levels of taxation including VAT, state pensions, all social security benefits and spending on public services. It also has full control over defence, foreign affairs, national security, its own currency and whether or not to go to war.

The UK controls its natural assets, power generation, air and sea transportation, passports and a whole lot more.

In other words, the EU is not about sovereignty, it is purely about trade, social regulation and the free movement of its citizens within its borders in peaceful coexistence.

While the British Brexit campaign is all about exclusion and immigration, the Scottish YES campaign is all about inclusion and independence.

The fact is, Scotland will never be able to reach its full potential as a nation while shackled to a delusional, divided and debt-ridden Britain struggling with its imperial past to remain a world power.

GRANT FRAZER Cruachan, Newtonmore