IT is now clear that the Government has not even attempted to deliver the clean Brexit which it promised at the time of the referendum and soon afterwards ("May stares into the political abyss", The Herald, November 16). With the process led by politicians, advisers and civil servants who are Remainers it is not surprising that more than two years have been wasted and the outcome to date is a proposal which makes a complete mockery of leaving the EU – one which would lock the UK into obeying EU laws and regulations for years to come.

Remainers have of course taken full advantage of the Government’s incompetence, promoting Project Fear once again and working with the EU to ensure that the worst possible deal is reached with the aim of a second referendum to reverse the outcome of the first. They may well succeed since the wonderful promise of escaping from the undemocratic EU and restoring our independence has now been so tarnished by Theresa May.

The only hope of delivering the Brexit which so many voted for is to replace the Prime Minister with one who really believes that this country will thrive as an independent nation.

John Hunt,

20 York Road, North Berwick.

IS it democratic to force through a Brexit deal when it’s absolutely clear from all the recent polling that voters have now grasped the fact that the best deal available is not actually the one being promoted by the Prime Minister, but the deal we have as full members of the EU?

At this point there is plainly no consensus either in the government, in Parliament or in the country as a whole on what the appropriate course of action should be. If the options of the current deal, No Deal or Remain were put to any of these groups the only one that could possibly gain more than 50 per cent support is Remain.

Frankly, it has become increasingly obvious over the last two years that neither of the other two options is as good a “deal” as the one we currently have.

When the UK joined the Common Market, as it was then, the country was universally recognised as being an economic basket case. While membership of the European Community over the last four decades has not brought us to the top of the economic league table, there’s no doubt we’re a lot better off than we were before we joined.

The EU has its faults, and clear democratic accountability may be one of them, but I defy anyone to demonstrate how these exceed the democratic deficit currently on display in the UK.

Cameron Crawford,

Woodlands, Serpentine Road, Rothesay.

GERARD McCulloch (Letters, November 16) states that "the notion that those who voted for Brexit in 2016 did so in the full knowledge and understanding of exactly what the vote entailed tests the meaning of "disingenuousness".

We had a similar situation in a referendum held in 2014 but on that occasion we were required to vote Yes or No to the question "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

We managed to vote on that occasion despite not having the full facts before us.

I see no difference between the independence referendum of 2014 and the Brexit referendum of 2016.

Grasp the thistle of an independent vote for Scotland by all means but I trust you will want the full facts in front of you to enable you to give careful consideration to which way you will vote.

I suspect and fear many who would like Scotland to be independent will not want full knowledge and understanding to get in their way.

Brian Bell,

15 Muirpark Road, Kinross.

IT is understandable that the majority of the British public do not understand the complexities of leaving the EU but it is simply unforgivable for the administration responsible for giving us the choice to not understand it either.

The Irish border, the disruption to supply chains and the possible requirement to stockpile, the time taken to secure future trade deals and most recently that surprise, surprise, quite a lot of lorries use the Dover-Calais route to transport goods. A simple yes/no question with a simple majority has proved completely inadequate in determining the future direction of the country.

If this were a private company they would be out of business.

Willie Towers,

Victoria Road, Alford, Aberdeenshire.

WHY do we have to suffer disruptive individuals every time I watch the outside broadcasts from the BBC Live team at Westminster? I do appreciate freedom of speech and the right of the individual, but shouting down the reporters is tantamount to a breach of the peace and should be dealt with the police

Neil Stewart,

61 Dunmore Street, Balfron.

THE publication of the Draft Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland from the European Union has given us a long-awaited glimpse as to what this country is likely to look like post-Brexit. Regrettably it is a land characterised chiefly by clouds and by cuckoos.

Alastair Patrick,

3 Pentland Crescent, Paisley.

ON the basis that neither the Remainers nor the Brexiters are happy with draft agreement I wonder if, perhaps, Mrs May has got it about right?

Ken Morin,

Castlehill Drive, Glasgow.

YOU should employ your correspondent Dave Stewart (Letters, November 16) immediately as a political analyst. His summary of the reasons for our being in the current mess (Cameron's pusillanimity in the face of his colleagues and perceived supporters and the untruthful messages put about by some of them) captures the issue perfectly in very few words. We need more Dave Stewarts.

Brian Chrystal,

55 Craiglockhart Road, Edinburgh.

MEMBERS of all parties should be ashamed of their performances which has occasioned "debate" to disintegrate into personal and often unnecessary vitriolic comment.

Westminster collectively requires restoration of calm and sanity. The due process of diligence regarding the current Brexit deal needs to be followed. It will either be accepted or fail.

There is no mileage in tolerating the current mayhem by those self promoting personal political advancement. Possible helpful solution? More input from our usually loquacious Speaker by way of gavel-raising and less navel-gazing.

Allan C Steele,

22 Forres Avenue, Giffnock.