Likelihood of a People’s Vote on final Brexit terms puts SNP in a sticky position

The probability of a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal appears to be growing by the day. At some point the SNP may have to declare their position on this and it will be very difficult for them. On the one hand, they have repeatedly protested their anger at Scotland being “dragged out of the EU”. This implies that they should be firmly in favour of such a vote.

On the other hand, they absolutely do not want to set a precedent. In the unlikely event of a vote for Scottish independence at some point in the future, the people of Scotland would expect to have the opportunity to vote on the final terms of its withdrawal from the UK. Since those terms are likely to spell out in detail the horrible economic consequences for Scotland, such a vote is the last thing they would want. Interesting times for the SNP.

CAROLE FORD Terregles Avenue, Glasgow

While all true democrats will obviously respect the result of the referendum, the Labour leader on Tuesday implicitly gave his blessing to a second Brexit vote.

Sir Keir Starmer refused to say that the UK will definitely be leaving the EU on 29 March. The Labour leadership has carefully left every option on the table, including the possibility of remaining in the EU.

During the Labour conference, there was a speech from the floor where it was suggested that, if all else fails, “we should call a general strike”. That suggestion met with rapturous applause not only from the audience but from the platform party as well. If Jeremy Corbyn is the true democrat that he claims to be, would he please consider whether the prospect of a general strike at this particular time should go to a referendum, or as he puts it, to a “people’s vote”?

ALAN SIM Hammerfield Avenue, Aberdeen

The Labour Conference – a study in high powered inertia – shows how they only know how to spend until broke, then borrow and spend until broke again, then get voted out, and then jeer from the sidelines as the Conservatives repair the damage. The electorate never seems to learn that there is no such thing as a Socialist utopia with free lunches. MALCOLM PARKIN Gamekeepers Road, Kinnesswood, Kinross

Last week Jeremy Corbyn said that he would “not rule out” granting a second independence referendum. This followed comments in 2017 that “it is absolutely fine if Scotland wants to hold a second referendum”. Despite Richard Leonard’s protestations, it is quite clear that there is a split in the Labour Party and that Jeremy Corbyn cannot be trusted to preserve the Union.

On the other hand, Ruth Davidson has stated that she is unequivocally in favour of the Union. Indeed, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party has been consistent in standing up to the SNP and telling them to stop its referendum obsession and focus on better government for Scotland.

TIM JACKSON Whim Road, Gullane