IN the midst of the debacle surrounding Brexit, one thing I don't recall being raised (though perhaps it should have been) was the fact that although the referendum question was binary (in/out), it's doubtful that most people are.

There will, I suspect, be many who were not fundamentally opposed to EU membership but simply wanted amendments to the basics of our continued membership.

They might be fine with a real degree of freedom of movement, but not for people to come here without basic background checks being carried out, for example.

They might well welcome inward investment from outside the EU (Nissan or Honda for example) but not with existing British jobs being exported to lower-wage EU members (Cadbury, for example).

They might well have welcomed the prospect of retiring to France with little in the way of formalities to complete – but not so happy with people of working age being able to move here with no firm job prospects.

I for one voted Remain as I was (and still am) of the view that no relationship the EU would be without issues, but perhaps many who voted Leave would have been keen to cast their vote for a "go away and renegotiate the unrestricted freedom of movement – and then we'll remain" option.

Andrew Donald,

3G Afton Road, Kildrum, Cumbernauld.

YOU echo a widely-voiced lamentation: “Alas, amidst the ferment, farce and chaos of yesterday – and last week, last month and last year – that seems an idealistic notion. But it is one that we would fervently wish to see re-enacted: a return to old-fashioned, pre-Brexit values, if you will” ("Now get on with running the country", Herald editorial, December 13). Prior to “returning to pre-Brexit values” we need to return to the very idea of Brexit and let the people decide the character of the final deal.

For this to happen I recommend the Australian solution used successfully recently in the "same-sex marriage decision”. The Australian Parliament didn’t want to come to any agreement so a national “survey” was agreed. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (an arms-length body) managed a postal survey resulting in such overwhelming popular support for same-sex marriage that parliament had to approve a bill.

A postal vote to all on the electoral roll plus new eligible voters would be quick as well as offering a choice format. “1.Exit under WTO rules, 2. The current Government proposals, 3. Renegotiate an alternate deal or 4. Remain” are four possible options. This is not a bland binary second referendum but is offering people a genuine choice on outcomes.

Thom Cross,

18 Needle Green, Carluke.

THE “infinite monkey theorem” states that a monkey randomly hitting the keys on a keyboard an infinite number of times, will eventually write a masterpiece. Total hokum of course, but the public should expect that out of the 1,500 politicians we pay for at Westminster, at least one of them would have a clue about Brexit. But no, Theresa May had to swan off to Brussels to beg EU leaders to get the UK out of the hole we have dug ourselves into, because she has nothing. Of course, they declined.

The minority Tory Party is split 2-1. Labour is also split, between those who want Brexit, or a referendum or an election. But a Brexit plan is nowhere to be seen. We cannot cancel Brexit as that would upset a sizeable number of people, and would leave the UK with zero credibility. The Norway option is unacceptable to English opinion (include xenophobic Scottish Unionist sentiment, sadly) as it retains free movement. A No Deal Brexit would be a disaster economically. Time to give that monkey a typewriter, and make it Foreign Secretary. We need a plan.

GR Weir,

17 Mill Street, Ochiltree.

JILL Stephenson (Letters, December 14) complains about the Scottish Government getting aspirations above its allocated station: parading on the world stage when we have the UK Government to conduct foreign policy in our name.

If ever a government has aspirations above its station it's Whitehall. Full of delusions of grandeur, it looks back longingly to the days when the map was pink. It has problems belonging to any club it doesn't lead and demands exceptional treatment in international dealings. It sells arms to belligerent misogynous states like Saudi Arabia. It joins the United States in illegal wars in search of vicarious power.

An independent Scotland would seek equality, not deference in its dealings with foreign countries. Its military forces would be used for defence and peacekeeping, not aggression and warmongering.

Many of us hope one day to live in such a country.

Mary McCabe,

25 Circus Drive, Glasgow.

JILL Stephenson is indignant about the perception of Scotland in the world and that Derek Mackay had the temerity to budget for foreign affairs.

She seems to think it is all spent by Nicola Sturgeon striding the world stage and spending our money on promoting herself, which is petty nonsense.

She complains that this spending is increasing to £24 million in 2019/20. Crivvens!

She does not quote any detail or it might have dawned on her that by exiting the EU spending on foreign affairs will rocket, as British embassies will also require to increase spending with individual countries.

Her petulance is because we do not know our place; we are a region in her typical Unionist eyes.

Jim Lynch,

42 Corstorphine Hill Crescent, Edinburgh.

WRITING in the Agenda forum, Lord George Foulkes ("Why we need a UK Constitutional Convention, The Herald, December 12) states that "Various attempts to start regional devolution within England ... have perished because Whitehall departments clung to all the real powers" and refers to the north-east referendum.

Perhaps the Whitehall departments were guilty as charged, but the real reason that the referendum failed was because, despite a promotional campaign fronted by the old and bold/great and good, on a turnout of just under 50 per cent, the electorate voted down the proposal by almost four votes to one.

Clearly, they did not believe that the problems of the area could be solved by the creation of another talking shop.

Christopher W Ide,

25 Riverside Road, Waterfoot, East Renfrewshire.