Brexit blues

Friday was a very sad day for me – and for thousands of people around the UK. We knew it was coming, but it still pains us to see people like Nigel Farage gloating like a Cheshire cat who’s just decapitated a mouse.

Why on earth so many people chose to leave a union which, as it evolved, has cemented friendship and cooperation between European countries in the post-war years is beyond my comprehension. Perhaps now that the deed is done people will begin to fully understand what we’ve lost – or thrown away, depending on how they voted.

I played Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’ at full throttle on Saturday, with all the windows open. It didn’t change anything, but it did make me feel better.

This episode will go down in history as one of the most selfinjurious acts ever perpetrated by the British people. It was a sad moment when the European flag was removed from the esplanade outside the European Parliament building in total silence, leaving the Union flag flying alone.

Those who think that we’ve gained some glorious victory by leaving the EU are sadly deluded. All that we’ve achieved is a reputation for a propensity towards conformity and insularity. One of those factors would be damaging enough, but both make us very vulnerable in a hostile world where religious extremism

and terrorist attacks are on the increase.

We cannot stand in splendid isolation in a 21st century world – and we certainly can’t expect Donald Trump to prioritise trade with the UK over fighting for his political future.

CAROLYN TAYLOR Wellbank, Broughty Ferry

It is a feat of irony beyond even the wildest imagination that the SNP can wail that Brexit is “breaking up a 27-nation Union’’ while at the same time campaigning relentlessly for Scexit, the break-up of the eminently successful union of Scotland with the others occupying this small island.

When will the people of Scotland get it? The SNP emperor is unclothed. Can they possibly fool all of the people all of the time?

ALEXANDER MCKAY New Cut Rigg, Edinburgh

In 2014 Alex Salmond called a referendum when oil was $130 a barrel, but still he couldn’t win the economic argument.

Today, after the oil price fell 20 per cent in a fortnight to $56 a barrel, Nicola Sturgeon thinks it’s the perfect time to have another chaotic referendum.

Poll after poll shows Scots believe they would be worse off leaving the UK. It’s time for the First Minister to get on with her day job.

TRACEY THOMAS Drumbrae South, Edinburgh