IT is sad and worrying that such a distinguished list of Scottish notables should have taken it upon themselves to call for the nullification of the EU referendum (“Fresh call to halt Brexit”, The Herald, July 18, and Letters, July 18).

It is worrying because it appears to represent a disregard for the democratic process that follows something of a pattern for EU referendums – in Denmark in 1993, effectively in France and the Netherlands in 2006 and in Ireland in 2008. If we want an explanation for the rise of right-wing populism across the EU it is in part because of the perception that, at a time of austerity and growing insecurity, there is a privileged elite, doing well out of an EU gravy train, who themselves have no regard for democracy.

The letter is sad because of the current political context in Britain. This year’s General Election saw an almost unprecedented re-involvement in politics – particularly among youth. Turn-out across Britain rose to nearly 70 per cent and its driving force was the conviction that progressive economic and political transformation was at last possible.

The authors of the July 18 letter call for a debate on a “better, fairer, more equal society” but seem to fail to appreciate that the means to achieving just that – such as implementing the Jeremy Corbyn manifesto – would be seriously compromised by membership of either the EU or the EU single market.

Comprehensive public ownership – of railways, energy or postal services – would incompatible with EU competition rules. So also would the strategic use of public procurement or state aid to implement Labour’s industrial strategy. And the EU-ratified Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta) would equally make it almost impossible to roll back privatisation in education and the NHS.

The undemocratic assumption that the outcome of the EU referendum can be somehow disregarded needs to be replaced by a commitment to secure the kind of settlement with the EU currently being argued for by Mr Corbyn, one that benefits all people and not just a privileged elite.

John Foster (Secretary: Radical Options for Scotland and Europe ROSE), Jim Sillars (President), Eddie McGuire (Acting Chair), Elaine Smith MSP, Neil Findlay MSP, Vince Mills, Jim Berrington, Robert Laurie and Keith Stoddart (committee members), Phil McGarry (Political Officer, RMT Scotland), Jim McDaid (Chair ,Irvine and North Ayrshire Trades Union Council), Arthur West (Secretary Kilmarnock and Loudoun TUC), Tom Morrison (Secretary Clydebank TUC),

c/o 845 Govan Road, Glasgow.

A NUMBER of your correspondents (Letters, July 21) write supporting the call for a nationwide debate with a view to calling a halt to Brexit, which I and others have criticised as being an attempt to negate the referendum and thus undemocratic. I believe also it is impractical due to the timescale for the Brexit negotiations to be concluded and the impossibility of determining any agreed outcome of their debate.

Of course there is a massive ongoing debate on Brexit at present in all branches of the media, not least in the columns of The Herald, from which it is obvious that different views are held strongly. What more could their debate add so why do they wish it?

Some belittle "the will of the people" as expressed in the referendum, apparently because they disagree with the result in this case. I would suggest to them that if they are democrats they must accept that the die is cast for the time being. In due course there will be another General Election, whether it will be pre or post-Brexit no one knows at present. At that time they will have the democratic opportunity to vote for whichever of the parties support UK membership of the EU , and then of course accept and make the best of whatever decision the electorate make, as the rest of us will have to do.

Alan Fitzpatrick,

10 Solomon's View, Dunlop.

R RUSSELL Smith’s suggestion (Letters, July 21) that we should have another referendum to correct the outcome of the European vote is tempting but unsound. The logic that permits a second referendum cannot resist demands for a third. Then where are we?

The better suggestion is that we require our parliamentarians to abort the Brexit project and take responsibility on themselves.

Elected representatives are expected to exercise their judgment. Pulling out of Brexit would certainly incur the wrath of sections of the media, but if their case is good it won’t lose them votes at their next rendezvous with the polls. On the contrary, I think. And it would give us the welcome sight of elected representatives showing some leadership. We need them to stand up to the corporates, not to cave in by letting them push us around in a dangerously over-simplified one-day showdown that is a referendum.

Tim Bell,

11 Madeira Place, Edinburgh.

IN response to your front page banner, “UK’S Brexit team ‘utterly unprepared’ on key issues” (The Herald, July 21), my wife exclaimed: “Why is that even a headline, I could have told them that, right from the start?”

That to me, is the crux of Brexit. Perhaps as a result of the lies we were fed during the referendum, or that the people promulgating these lies are deeply embedded within this Government, few of us have the slightest degree of trust in the process, or those acting on our behalf, or even what the aim of Brexit actually is (a known unknown, perhaps).

Some pundits seem to think a “good” Brexit can be achieved because of parliamentary arithmetic. That’s as sensible as giving up your paid job, and playing the lottery for a living.

Parliament can only promote change in matters coming to it from negotiations. It is patently absurd to expect such an unwieldy body as a parliament to initiate a positive outcome in negotiations it plays no direct role in.

Parliament may only have a very limited say on Brexit in any case, given this Government’s attitude to democratic oversight.

GR Weir,

17 Mill Street, Ochiltree.

I DISAGREE with Ruth Marr and her suggestion that Theresa May should have resigned as Prime Minister following the General Election (Letters, July 21, 2017). The very last situation which this country needs, at the moment either a Conservative leadership contest or another General Election. Hopefully Mrs May will have the strength of character to see the job through; I do believe she has that strength.

Brian D Henderson,

44 Dundrennan Road, Battlefield, Glasgow.