Windmill tilting

Vanessa Glynn is correct in saying the Brexiteers have never offered any coherent analysis of how to replace Britain’s EU membership (Letters, 20 June). She also underlines growing concern in both the Tory and Labour parties about the consequences of the May Government’s aggressive and unrealistic approach to the EU withdrawal talks. Monday’s start of negotiations in Brussels suggests the Government’s tactics still owe as much to Don Quixote’s strategy towards windmills, as to modern diplomacy.

Is there a single prominent Brexiteer who is not a nostalgic imperialist, and completely blind to Britain’s true place in the modern world order? I, from the outset of this debate, have only noted Leavers with a zealous and impractical disregard for the facts.

It’s crucial now for influential Labour and Tory voices to start leading public opinion, rather than following it. Westminster MPS should take the traditional responsibility of elected representatives and properly represent both those who never wanted to leave the EU, and also those who now have had second thoughts about the economic consequences of so doing.

So far, too many Remain MPS – Tory and Labour – have appeared more concerned about retaining their seats than the national interest, and strangely reluctant to argue a popular case for Remain .

They should now resume the traditional responsibility of elected representatives by debating, and voting, not just according to their conscience, but also in the interests of those who never wanted to leave the EU, and those who now have had justifiable second thoughts.

Because only Parliament can temper the terms of Brexit – or even avoid it altogether.

ANTHONY O’DONNELL Dean Park Crescent, Edinburgh

News that Scotland’s Brexit Minister has said that independence must remain on the table throughout the Brexit process gives the first real insight into recent SNP leadership discussions on the subject of a referendum rerun.

Indeed, Mike Russell’s comments suggest the rebranding exercise is underway. Meanwhile, as Tom Peterkin outlines, the First Minister’s dilemma is in large part of her own making (Sturgeon faces up to fundamental difficulties on indyref, 22 June).

While we await Nicola Sturgeon’s statement for more clues of what is to come, the signals suggest we might eventually be faced with a combination of the 2014 and 2016 referendums merged into one, forcing us to choose between the EU or the UK. Yet the First Minister would be hard pressed to be sure of how some of her own core support would vote on this stark choice.

As for the people of Scotland as a whole, they have done their best to make their views known. The question is whether anyone is really listening.

KEITH HOWELL

White Moss West Linton, Peeblesshire

Tom Peterkin touches on how the SNP will deal with the Brexit Bill, which raises several interesting points. Firstly, it gives the lie to SNP claims that Holyrood wouldn’t get any say in the Brexit bills, as aspects of the Repeal Bill will go there.

Secondly, as Holyrood has no government in overall control, all parties there will have a key role in this bill – will they act responsibly? I won’t be holding my breath. Linked to all this is the SNP wish to retain full membership of the EU, which cost it votes in fishing areas – how will they vote on this bill? Interesting times!

WILLIAM BALLANTINE,

Dean Road, Bo’ness, West Lothian

During the Queen’s Speech debate on Wednesday, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford attacked planned agriculture and fisheries bills as a “great power grab”, saying legislation to set up new post-brexit rural payments systems and environmental controls would infringe on areas that are devolved to Scotland.

Even Angus Robertson, his predecessor, who constantly bleated about Scotland being ignored and dealt a terrible hand by Westminster, would have struggled to keep a straight face with this astounding assertion by a man whose Scottish colleagues have failed to deliver a farm payments system for several years at a cost now estimated at £178 million. This is £150m over the original £28m estimate, itself a ludicrous amount, and doesn’t include the £60m in late payment fines faced by Holyrood.

I’m beginning to thing that appeals to Nicola Sturgeon to “get on with the day job” are just tempting fate.

ALLAN SUTHERLAND Willow Row, Stonehaven