MPS must admit that under circumstances May got best Brexit deal available

Can Prime Minister Theresa May survive the turmoil that has gripped her party over exit from the European Union (your report, 16 November)? Her assertive, resilient tone at the televised press conference does bring to mind the events of nearly 30 years ago which led to the downfall of Margaret Thatcher. On that occasion, of course, it was pro-european elements in her party who took issue with her often strident anti-european Union tone. Now Mrs May is putting forward a case for compromise with the EU in the face of many of her party’s purists who want to sever most links.they want absolutely no truck with an agreement that involves any suggestion of membership of a Customs Union or single market, even on a temporary basis.

It is always difficult to reconcile the idea of being outside the EU with member- ship of a bloc like the existing Customs Union. But what the Prime Minister and her officials have been involved in is a harsh negotiation, not an academic seminar.

The real things that matter to most people are their citizenship status, their job, the need to control numbers coming into the UK, freedom to travel, their safety, their security. Joyce Mcmillan articulated this well (Perspective, same edition)but perhaps spoiled the argument with two points: the introduction of unnecessary class antagonism and the suggestion that Scottish independence alone might be a solution to the problems we face north of the Border.

The Prime Minister’s survival in the coming weeks equally will depend on two points. They are, firstly, the willingness of people to speak up and assert to their MPS that these real things are what actually matters. Then the willingness of those MPS to look and listen and recognise that under the circumstances she got the best deal available.

BOB TAYLOR

Shiel Court, Glenrothes

Eva Oer (“EU may view Scotland as a likeable rebel but it can’t expect favours”, Perspective, 14 November) asks whether it would be easy for an independent Scotland to quickly rejoin the EU.

I agree with David Martin MEP that it would be easy (I was his SNP opponent when he was first elected in 1984). While most Scots who voted in the EU referendum favoured staying in the EU a significant proportion did not, including some independence supporters. The question of Scottish independence should be separated from that of EU membership and an independent Scotland should have a referendum on whether to seek EU membership.

I favour both independence and EU membership but I notice that Norway does well outwith the EU but in the EEA, while Sweden,denmark and Finland do well in the EU. Whatever the outcome I hope and expect that an independent Scotland will welcome those from the EU and elsewhere who choose to live here.

DAVID STEVENSON

Blacket Place, Edinburgh

Eva Oer raises several important points. Firstly, as she says, “while Holyrood might gain control from Westminster if there was independence, they would have to cede some of it to Brussels if they wanted to join the EU again”. In other words, you cannot be independent in Europe – SNP please note!

Leading on from this, Scotland probably wouldn’t have the UK opt outs, so we wouldn’t have the half way house there is at present. We would have to join the euro, hence economic sovereignty would be lost, ie not just some, but a lot of power would go to Brussels.

From looking at the SNP Wilson Commission, this admits that Scotland would not meet the entry criteria for the euro for many years, so it is possible, after independence, Scotland could be out of the UK, and the EU – a scary thought!

WILLIAM BALLANTINE

Dean Road Bo’ness, West Lothian

Former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton told a Belfast audience a few weeks ago that the UK’S exit from the EU “may go down as one of the greatest and most unnecessary self-inflicted wounds in modern history.” Now after all the talk of the Canada model and Norway model, inevitably it has come down to the “Hotel California” model – “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave”.

Britain has had its fair share of foreign policy fiascos over the past century. Brexit is a certainly a worthy entrant into this list of disasters.

(REV DR) JOHN CAMERON

Howard Place, St Andrews

There was never going to be a time when the British electorate knew all the implications of Brexit – there are fresh revelations every day. Another EU referendum would be pointless because the ramifications of leaving OR staying can never be finalised. I voted Remain, but I still think we should Leave: we were, and are, never going to know everything that it means for everybody. Ever.

STEVE HAYES Aithernie Court

Leven, Fife