AT the end of January 2019, the Westminster Parliament gave Prime Minister May a “new mandate” for negotiations with the EU. No one in the media, politics or commentariat dispute this mandate. In March 2017 the Scottish Parliament gave First Minister Sturgeon a mandate for a Scottish independence referendum; by a clear and decisive majority. Ms Sturgeon has stated she will not seek a new referendum until the Brexit outcome becomes clearer. Astonishingly, the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats denies that a mandate for a Scottish referendum even exists (“Tories warn Sturgeon not to call Indyref2”, the Herald, March 1).

In a democracy, it is difficult to reconcile these two positions. Has Scotland no legislative say on its own future? Are we then a “vassal state”, of Jacob Rees-Mogg perception, and if so, how do Scots establish their constitutional preferences, if not by the ballot box? Mr Rennie asserts there should be a second EU referendum (which I favour), without his party gaining a mandate from the electorate, parliament or even Uncle Tom Cobley.

Mr Rennie also asserts, evidence-free, that ending the UK Union will be much more difficult than ending the EU Union is for the UK. But Scottish self-government will not involve a Northern Ireland-type border dispute, and if Scotland gains speedy access to the EU, will not involve extended trade discussions either. With much of the rest, there are international legal precedents to follow, and I am sure there exists goodwill enough to facilitate an affable parting of the ways. The nuclear issue may involve posturing on both sides, but should be easily resolved with a 10-year lease for Faslane and the Trident system.

GR Weir,

17 Mill Street,

Ochiltree.

DAVID STUBLEY (Letters, February 28) completely ignored the main thrust of my letter of February 26, which focused on one of the key consequences of the massive imbalance of trade in goods (£90 billion) between the EU and the UK which has not only lost us thousands of skilled jobs but costs a net £10 billion annually for the privilege. A very bad deal in every sense of the word. Rather he nitpicked on minor issues before having another go about his mistaken belief that Brexit was an “impending disaster” and about the benefits of “EU funding” into regions and rural areas which he claimed “Westminster would never have granted” _ the fact that it is UK taxpayers’ money in the first place was not even mentioned.

He also claimed “in common with many Leave voters” that I somehow believed the misinformation which was peddled to swing the vote. Wrong. Indeed, as a Eurosceptic I even wrote a letter arguing that people should vote Remain in order to fight the dysfunctional and unaccountable EU along with their unfair trade practices within rather than Leave. However, the majority vote was to leave and the rest is history as they say – but with hindsight I must admit that my original belief that there was a chance the EU could be reformed in a meaningful way has been proved wrong by the intransigence displayed by the EU “negotiators” thus far.

Yes, Brexit will hit us harder initially but in my view Britain will adapt much quicker than than people think and provided we take tough decisions early on we will have a much brighter future ahead of us as a global player free to do our own trade deals.

Ian Lakin,

Pinelands,

Murtle Den Road,

Milltimber, Aberdeen.

Read more: Conservatives warn Sturgeon against holding new vote

IT is a shame that you chose apparently to support the nonsense of those attempting to tear the UK out of the EU with your Letters Page headline “The betrayal of those who voted to leave will never be forgiven” (March 1). How strange that the betrayal of the closely-similar number who voted to remain does not gain such headlines and has been persistently ignored by politicians of both major parties.

Surely elected members in a Parliamentary democracy are supposed to consider the interests of both those who did not vote for them as well as their supporters? In a situation where the vote was advisory, characterised by lies, barely concealed racism and illegal funding, surely it is even more important for Members to follow this code.

Dr RM Morris,

Veslehaug, Polesburn,

Methlick,

Ellon.

I UNDERSTAND the concern, disappointment and anger at the possibility of delay or another referendum of many of the 17 million, who out of the 46.5 million registered to vote in the 2016 EU referendum voted to leave, and against expectation, won in a 72 per cent turnout.

And with 37 per cent of the electoral 2016 vote and false hopes clearer almost three years later I believe they are right to fear a different result should we have the opportunity to think again.

R Russell Smith,

96 Milton Road, Kilbirnie.

MANY months ago my wife and I made a pact to switch channels whenever a news broadcast or other political programme about our leaving the EU comes on.

Our only indulgence has been some whimsical speculation.

My wife believes that if the majority of the people of the UK had voted to remain, that would have been the end of the matter and the so-called “losers” would have have been told just to get on with life.

I on the other hand, revert to an earlier referendum and wonder if a majority of the people of Scotland had voted to leave the UK and been faced with the sort of opposition orchestrated by the media and other vested interests (to such an extent that the vote was effectively meaningless) what would have been the reaction of the so-called winners?

I suspect she’s more clever than I am.

John F Crawford,

4 The Breakers,

Victory Boulevard,

Lytham.

AFTER a crash-out Brexit are we Scots expected to believe that a Tory dictator will instruct English companies to seek trade deals with every country in the world except an independent Scotland in the EU?

There is an answer to that: “Aye, right.”

Bill Kerr,

56 Sandyknowes Road, Cumbernauld.

I BEG to suggest that the Brexit fiasco has not just given us the ugly “Brexit” word but it now justifies a revised spelling of toxic – talksick.

Bill Clark,

8 Grahamshill Street,

Airdrie.