IN announcing the first candidate for the Euro elections to represent his single-issue Brexit party, Nigel Farage is now officially beyond parody ("Unhappy families: Rees-Mogg’s sister switches to Farage party", The Herald, April 13). The privately-educated, millionaire city broker introduced Annunziata Rees-Mogg, like her leader, a failed Westminster parliamentary candidate, privately educated and very wealthy to boot, amidst claims that his party will now send "a clear message to the Establishment".

The party's acquisition of the relatively unheard-of Ms Rees-Mogg is being presented as something of a coup by Mr Farage, presumably due to her previous Conservative Party membership and family name. However, surely his haggard "man of the people" act must now be open to ridicule, even by the media, which continually seeks his opinion on Brexit-related matters, despite his utter irrelevance to genuine democratic debate.

There is no doubt that his uniquely British attempt at Trumpesque populism offers media-friendly sound bites, but the time has come for the UK media, including the BBC, to call him out for what he really stands for.

The Brexit farce has polarised opinion and normalised the extreme right wing in UK politics. Our own cardboard Oswald Mosley, engulfed in recurring hypocrisy, half-truths and fierce ambition, continually seeks opportunities to stir up hatred and discontent, knowing that the instability generated by Brexit offers him the chance to make empty promises to disillusioned and desperate people.

The leader of the Brexit Party is a political vulture and if the media calls time on his humbug, then his vainglorious rants will fall on deaf ears. It's time for a responsible democratic response to Mr Farage and his like across the political spectrum.

Owen Kelly,

8 Dunvegan Drive, Stirling.

ACCORDING to your report on the foundation of the Brexit Party, Annunziata Rees-Mogg is 40 years old. She joined the Conservative Party in 1984 (aged five, apparently) and has been fighting elections since 1987 (aged eight). What should the voters make of that?

Kenneth Fraser,

Winram Place, St Andrews.

Read more: Jacob Rees-Mogg’s sister to stand for Nigel Farage’s new Brexit Party

IT is somewhat disappointing that your normally uncontroversial Saturday Magazine (excepting of course Ron McKenna's weekly hit on unsuspecting eateries) is sullied by political comment from a paid hack residing in France: whilst we mere mortals who pay for our favourite daily read at the local corner shop require to go through hoops to get the eye of the Letters Editor and get a shot at a reply (pressure of editorial space and speed of topicality change).

Fidelma Cook's observations ("The UK is damned whatever is to come. But Scotland isn't", Herald Magazine, April 13) are made through a very rose-coloured prism, in particular those regarding the performance of the SNP at Westminster and in particular her shot at the BBC cutting away from the leader of the SNP making his reply during news magazines. The BBC Parliament channel invariably shows all Westminster debating live and First Minister's Questions from Wales and Scotland unedited. Plenty of opportunity to see it all there.

Without defending the Prime Minister in any way regarding the current Brexit scenario I would say that her parliamentary party is probably the most truly representative of the opinions of the entire country with many divisions apparent and not being whipped into toeing the party line by the head office in Edinburgh like the SNP at Westminster, for example. The Prime Minister, like her or loathe her, is at least trying to sail a ship on a course through very heavy weather. It is worth restating that the legal Withdrawal Agreement was arrived at by the negotiators of the Home Civil Service and its European Union equivalents. Little has been said about the fact that during the negotiations, the Prime Minister lost her Cabinet Secretary Jeremy Heywood in 2018, stepping down owing to illness. The loss of the Chief Mate in the middle of the fray has undoubtedly had an impact on the negotiations and the fact that they are now concluded speaks volumes for her determination to see this project through.

Whether you are for Brexit or agin it, it is an opportunity. Harry S Truman once said: "Progress occurs when courageous, skilful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better. You could not criticise Theresa May for lack of courage.

Archie Burleigh,

Meigle Cottage, Skelmorlie.

LABOUR MP David Lammy has likened Brexiters in the Tory Party to the Nazis ("Lammy calls for stand against ‘Nazi’ hard Brexiters", The Herald, April 15). Does he need reminding what the Nazis did to the Jews and others?

Perhaps he should have a chat about anti-Semitism in his own party before he starts on those who just happened to be in favour of Brexit, such as the millions who voted for it.

Michael Watson,

74 Wardlaw Avenue, Rutherglen.

GEORGE Dale (Letters, April 13) dismisses referendums as mere instruments used by governments to gauge public opinion and asks if we cannot now have a proper and clear vote on EU membership. With all due respect Mr Dale, isn't a proper vote what the electorate believed they had in 2016? David Cameron told them before the vote that "it was your decision, nobody else's, not politicians, not Parliament's, not lobby groups, not mine, just you, the British people. You, the British people will decide. At that moment you will hold the country's destiny in your hands. This is a huge decision, perhaps the biggest we will make in our lifetime and it will be the final decision. It will be a once in a generation choice, an in or out referendum. When the British people speak, their voice will be respected, not ignored. If we vote to leave then we will leave. There will not be another renegotiation and another referendum."

Mr Dale then suggests that after the proper vote a free vote should be taken in Parliament and if the result is Remain that will decide the matter but if it is Leave he lists the options which Parliament should debate. These have already been debated. This is just a repeat of the toxic process we have endured for the last two years . He also says that we have already spent an enormous amount of money, so why should we now do the same again on a so-called proper vote if, as he proposes, Parliament can override it anyway?

Morag Black,

3 Leeburn Avenue, Houston.

WHAT level of arrogance, or depth of delusion, allows those supporting Brexit to believe that it is the European Union that will lose out when the United Kingdom departs?

Francis Deigman,

12 Broomlands Way, Erskine.