Collapse of UKIP has left an unfortunate legacy as the goal of Brexit nears

One of the acute ironies surrounding the current Brexit turmoil is that it is happening just as UKIP is collapsing as a political force.

Some of the individuals who were instrumental in pressing the case for an EU referendum in 2016 are resigning in protest at current leader Gerard Batten’s intolerance and lack of political judgement. They include Nigel Farage, Paul Nuttall and David Coburn.

Mr Farage’s personal skills and television demeanour were largely responsible for UKIP’S success in the Europe- an elections of 2014. It gained the largest number of UK seats in the Strasbourg legislature and frightened the conventional parties almost out of their wits.

Mr Coburn’s achievement was less well publicised but nevertheless significant. In defiance of the prevailing political trend in the run up to the independence referendum, he won a seat for UKIP in Scotland.

This served not just to emphasise that anti-european Union feeling was not confined to England in the main. It also dented the momentum of the SNP in putting the case for autonomy.ifthepartyhadwon three seats north of the border that year through the proportional voting system, it would have been well placed to argue that victory in the independence plebiscite that autumn was very much achievable. Mr Coburn’s achievement dented that approach.

UKIP became popular largely because of the immigration issue. This was partly fuelled by anti-muslim sentiment.

Perhaps Messrs Coburn, Farage and Nutttall could have done a lot more to stem that. Now even they are so disgusted with Mr Batten’s flirtation with Tommy Robinson, they feel the need to speak out.

Their sincerity can be questioned by the fact that their jobs in the European parliament will no longer exist after next spring.

Belatedly, however, they have at least made a gesture that shows the case against freedom of movement ought to be put without polluting politics with ugly sentiments.

BOB TAYLOR Shiel Court, Glenrothes

Theresa May described Brexit as the biggest exercise in democracy in our history. To dignify that disgraceful campaign with such a title shows how much her head is in the sand.

Meanwhile, most Brexiteers mutter that this deal is ‘not in their name’. But Cabinet responsibility tells a different story.

For two years this government claimed getting a good deal would be easy, so their preparations for Brexit have been poor (described as dire by the haulage companies) and industry is warning that a no deal Bexit will cause serious problems throughout the economy.

In London job opportunities in finance are down by a third – and the services sector is preparing for life without skilled European labour – all caused by the government’s red lines.

As Theresa May made the Tories ‘Ukip-light’ with her anti-immigrant policies, we can be in no doubt where blame for this Brexit farce lies.

ANDREW VASS Corbiehill Place, Edinburgh