Professor Tom Devine's interesting, but absurdly pessimistic, article on Brexit leaves a great deal unsaid (Brexit is an act of economic suicide but it is not inevitable, Comment, August 13). The most important point about the European Union is that it is intended to supplant the existing nation-states of Europe by substituting for them a new European super-state, based on neo-liberal economic principles, not on democracy, and in the process overriding the multi-faceted customs and cultures of the indigenous states so as to impose "the market" as the dominant factor. Competitiveness was to be the new standard.

Much of this has been achieved already, following the Maastricht and Lisbon treaties. But there is a huge unrest in Europe because of this, with youth unemployment reaching 40 per cent in several countries, massive internal opposition as seen in recent polls in Europe, and of course there's Brexit.

When Britain joined the EU, it was then referred to as the Common Market. Federation, that is, a federated Europe, had been spoken about by both Churchill and Attlee as a solution for a Europe broken by war. At that time, nation-states were distrusted, particularly Germany and France. A United States of Europe would, it was thought, overcome this. But never, at any time, was it publicly bruited that Britain would be part of this federation. A trading arrangement is one thing, being part of a political union is entirely different.

Feeling that "ever closer union", and a common currency, and the abolition of borders under Shengen, were all building blocks for a new European market state, a United States of Europe, the British public voted to escape. That's Brexit in a nutshell.

Perhaps Prof Devine should address these points in his next essay. And the SNP should now accept Brexit and start thinking about reforming the United Kingdom.

Randolph Murray

Rannoch

In Vicky Allan's interview with historian Tom Devine, she refers to to the "11-plus", a purely English exam held after six years of primary schooling (Inside the great mind of Scotland's modern bard, People behind the power, August 13). In Scotland there was a "qualifying" exam for senior secondary education, the dreaded "Qualy", which was taken after seven years of primary. It is important to keep the Scottish terms.

Susan FG Forde

Scotlandwell