SURELY the majority of Scottish citizens are becoming increasingly aware that UK democracy is at risk of being destroyed as a consequence of the hard-right coup being orchestrated by the extreme Brexiters who are determined that the voice of the House of Commons, which is at the heart of our representative democracy, be stifled.

As your Herald View suggests, “the hope must be that the rebels will rise again so the voice of the Commons is heard” (“Fudge cannot hide the hard truth on Brexit”, June 21). Tragic as Brexit would be for the British people, there is even more at stake if the extremists get their way with the backing of so-called Tory mutineers who, it seems, can only be relied upon to put party before country.

Although I am well aware of the serious economic challenges, verging on the unacceptable, that Scottish independence would present, it is beginning to look as though we, north of the Border, will have to choose between democracy and severe economic turbulence.

John Milne,

9 Ardgowan Drive, Uddingston.

THE SNP is becoming extra strident in its opposition to all things Westminster (“UK break-up vow as May lives to fight another day”, The Herald, June 21). The quality of the SNP’s arguments is lacking hence the quantity and volume have been turned up. This type of behaviour is reminiscent of a school playground.

While loyal SNP supporters may love all this sound and fury, the lack of a coherent argument cannot be ignored. Most Scots are still resolutely against independence and the SNP will need to come up with something far better than the Growth Commission to demonstrate its ability to make independence attractive to the 55 per cent.

The problem the SNP has is that it does not possess this. In recent days it has seen reversals on its approach to independence, the Sewel Convention, Brexit and even fracking; all of this against a background of failure on education, health and the economy. Empty vessels make the most noise.

Dr Gerald Edwards,

Broom Road, Glasgow.

ALAN Fitzpatrick thinks a Brexit “power grab” is fine because of a convention dated 2013 (Letters, June 21). Scots were promised much more recently: that the powers devolved to Holyrood were to be “entrenched”, and that Holyrood would be “the most powerful devolved parliament in the world”.

Were these promises lies? In any case, Whitehall hasn’t administered any of these governmental function in Scotland (unlike Wales) for a century or more. It’ll be interesting to see how running farming and fishing in Scotland without any detailed knowledge works out.

But cynical old me thinks these areas are to be used as bargaining chips (city passporting rights, anyone?), rather than for the benefit of the Scottish communities involved.

Martin Redfern (Letters, June 21) needs to study the history of Westminster’s failed digital projects and upgrades. They run into many tens of billions of pounds wasted and are so commonplace as to be nearly comical.

To suggest Scots, uniquely, cannot properly run their own governmental agencies is insulting.

GR Weir,

17 Mill Street, Ochiltree.