Democracy cuts both ways

Sir, – From all sides of the political spectrum those pushing the Brexit “Leave” campaign constantly quote as their authority “the democratic will of the people”.

In his Courier letter (December 5) Dave Coull recalls that as almost two out of three voters in Scotland polled “Remain” and not “Leave”, from a Scottish perspective this result is undemocratic if ignored.

However, does the “democratic will of the people” in Britain justify the drive we are currently experiencing from leaders seeking to leave the European Union at any cost? Perhaps not. Every “Leave” option currently being pursued by autocratic means, yet quoting democracy as the honourable route, leads to UK financial loss as a guaranteed outcome.

In the national poll of two years ago, one third of the UK population did not cast a vote, and in so doing withheld permission to give the government explicit approval for Britain to leave the EU.

The actual vote itself split the country in half.

Put simplistically, one in three persons voted to leave; one in three voted to stay; and one in three abstained from voting.

Two out of every three persons in the UK did not agree to leave.

Should the “democratic will of the people” actually sit astride the Remaining pole?

Andrew Lothian. 69 Dundee Road, Broughty Ferry.

It should be the case that the councillors, democratically elected by the public, run the local authorities