As the chancellor cuts growth forecasts, Brexiteers have gone quiet on ‘great deal’

The Chancellor tells us there are clouds of uncertainty over the economy, as he slashes growth forecasts.

The only way to survive a no- deal seems to be to slash all import duties leaving industries to sink or swim as best they can.

But we also will be out in the deep blue sea, wondering how we can compete with foreign firms when we are starved of investment and new technology.

With the loss of taxes from the economy and the need to slash interest rates into negative territory, everyone will be affected. The value of our savings (if we have any) will continue to fall

Who got us into this mess? Most of the culprits who promised us that a great deal with Europe would be a certainty have resigned, leaving not the strong and stable to pick up the pieces but the weak and foolish.

The myth of Tory competence is being exposed to all, even as Theresa May’s standing is diminished.

ANDREW VASS Corbiehill Place, Edinburgh

Sadly the Prime Minister’s totally reasonable compromise deal on EU exit has been demolished in Parliament and seems to be dead.

The pro-brexit ERG and the DUP killed it, cynically assisted by the supposedly pro-remain SNP.

The deal appears to be as unpopular in the country as it is in Parliament. The only way forward now is another referendum offering a choice of remain or leave with no deal.

Brexit supporters will argue this is anti-democratic, but had the vote in 2016 been 52 per cent remain, I doubt if Rees Mogg, Johnson, Farage and so on would have meekly accepted the result.

In the same way that the Lords can ask the Commons to “think again” when scrutinising legislation, it is perfectly fair for Parliament to go back to the people now we have a clearer idea of what Brexit means.

KEITH SHORTREED Methlick, Aberdeenshire

Now that we seem to have nodeal under any circumstances, this creates a conflict with laws already passed.

The chaos started by David Cameron and aggravated by Theresa May has reached its denouement.

It is a mess. The EU has said no third chance, so we are in a stage where deadlock is in motion.

The House is in charge. Consensus is impossible now in the House of Commons.

Games are being played. The third vote on the Withdrawal Agreement is and is not a possibility as the Speaker has to pronounce on whether it can return for a third time.

Running down the clock – but destroying the body politic from within.

JOHN EDGAR Langmuir Quadrant, Kilmaurs