What would Guy Fawkes have thought of the political situation in the UK today?

Tonight’s marking of Guy Fawkes’ Night is a timely reminder that non-democratic attempts to influence Westminster are rarely a good idea.

So we are left with a system of democracy – as Churchill is reported to have said, “the worst form of government, apart from all the others”.

It is therefore deeply troubling to hear our prime minister, and several other political leaders, appear to write off any prospect of another independence referendum, irrespective of election results.

I have no connection to the SNP, but if they (and/or other pro-independence parties) win a majority of Scotland’s seats in the forthcoming general election on a manifesto of holding Indyref2, then it must happen.

In 2014, those who argued in the Union’s favour frequently called it an “equal partnership” and a “family of nations”.

If we take that at face value, what kind of family blocks its members from leaving the house, or even from considering leaving the house? Is Scotland an equal partner, or a constitutional prisoner in the basement?

If the peaceful expression of the will of the people via the ballot box becomes fundamentally blocked, then we no longer live in a democracy.

C HEGARTY Glenorchy Road, North Berwick

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is fond of claiming that it’s undemocratic of the UK Government not to allow another independence referendum – this is again her response to Boris Johnson repeating that he will not grant a Section 30 order enabling her to stage Indyref2.

Undemocratic? Surely it’s the ultimate in democracy that the UK taxpayer, via the UK government, fully funds Holyrood, which has had a majority in favour of UK break-up for the past eight years, plus pays the salaries and expenses of 35 SNP MPS and 62 MSPS, with an unequivocally anti-uk raison d’être?

The UK government granted the Scottish separatists a referendum, which had they not lost, would have enabled the break up of the UK to happen, democratically.

Nicola Sturgeon and her predecessor, Alex Salmond, signed the 2012 Edinburgh Agreement, promising to respect the democratic outcome of the referendum. They have not done so, while the UK government has. Pot calling kettle, Ms Sturgeon?

MARTIN REDFERN Woodcroft Road, Edinburgh There are occasions when one has to ask oneself whether politicians live in the same world as the rest of us.

Do they understand the logic or lack of it in the things they say?

A startling instance of the latter occurred when Nicola Sturgeon asked how Boris Johnson could justify “ignoring the votes of the Scottish people” when he said that he would block a second referendum on Scottish independence.

Perhaps Nicola Sturgeon took an extended holiday in September 2014 when the Scottish people had a referendum on that very topic and they voted to remain in the UK by a margin of very close to 24 per cent more than those who voted to leave.

Now, just over five years later, the same Nicola Sturgeon who repeated over and over again that this was a “once in a lifetime” and “once in a generation” opportunity wants another go at breaking up the country we Scots voted emphatically to stay in. Can’t she count?

The Scottish people are becoming increasingly angry at having their name taken in vain by this politician and her fellow party members.

ANDREW HN GRAY Craiglea Drive, Edinburgh

The Scotsman welcomes letters for publication – 300 words maximum – from all sides of public debate. Include date and page when referring to an article, avoid ‘Letters to the Editor in e-mail subject line. No attachments. We reserve the right to edit letters. Send submissions, with full address and phone number, to:

❚ lettersts@scotsman.com ❚ The Editor, The Scotsman, 30 Queensferry Road, Edinburgh EH4 2HS;