MEANINGFUL Vote Three has been rejected by the Commons. The majority for those against the deal has reduced each time but was still a large number. Will we expect to see a fourth episode of this saga next week? We are still faced with the threat of leaving the EU without a deal if Parliament fails to come up with a proposal acceptable to both the Commons and the EU in the next fortnight.

Theresa May has stuck rigidly to her red lines and, as a result, we have her deal which pleases nobody. At the outset the EU made it clear that it has several principles it would not be moved on. All through the negotiations Tory Brexiters have been saying the EU will blink and allow the UK to cherry pick what it wanted to set up a deal with the bits it wants and avoid the bits it doesn’t like – with egg all over our faces.

We never had a clear plan that the Commons would accept and no attempt was made to discuss and reach a consensus among the parties. All along, it was a case of trying to avoid a meltdown within the Tory party while Labour did not contribute any clear proposals; its only goal has been to get a General Election. The SNP, as the third- largest party, put forward sensible options early on but, as is not unusual, anything coming from it is ignored regardless of content.

For months it has been obvious to almost everyone that, to keep an open border in Ireland and meanwhile try to get round the pillars of the EU ,was an impossible dream. If we are not to be at least in the customs union there needs to be a frontier somewhere, either at the Northern Ireland border or down the Irish sea. Both have been rejected by all parties so here we are in deadlock.

Maybe we will get a sense of direction from the Commons votes today but I suspect it will be back to Meaningful Vote Four. Then it may be crash out on April 11 or the Commons crumbles and passes vote four. Then we have another 18 months of the same pointless arguments over the way forward.

I think I’d rather have a second referendum on independence.

DS Blackwood,

1 Douglas Drive East, Helensburgh.

I AGREE with William Wallace that we need to have a better way of assessing the settled will of the people (Letters, March 28). The Brexit stramash has left me feeling wary of referenda as a way of developing constitutional change. I suspect that lots of Scots will feel we cannot face another episode as divisive as the Brexit referendum and the ensuing two years have been, and would probably be highly tempted to vote No to avoid this.

If there is to be a second referendum on Scottish independence, there should be two votes: first :Do you want Scotland to be an independent country –Yes/No? It should be accompanied by the promise of a second one once all the negotiations with rUK have been completed. The question would be: Now that negotiations have been completed, do you wish to proceed with independence – Yes/No?

Each referendum should have a substantial majority to see it put in force, not just a majority, which has led to all the resentment in the case of Brexit.

Lizanne MacKenzie,

63 Albert Road, Dumfries.

IT is time to have a second referendum on the EU as, nearly three years on, there must be thousands of youngsters wanting to cast their votes. It is their future that is at stake.

At nearly 86 years of age, I would be happy to stand aside and leave it to the 16-80 years old, including EU citizens working here to cast their votes. We need, more than ever, to be under the umbrella of the EU as we are such a divided nation.

The days of empire have long gone and the “great” in Great Britain is only an honorary title, sad to say.

Margaret E Allan,

9 Clydeford Drive, Uddingston.

COLLEGE Green, Westminster is used by the media to conduct endless interviews with MPs and political commentators. The Brexiter and Remainder support flags add some colour, unlike the monotonous caterwauling from zealous supporters present. The cacophony of noise often renders the interview inaudible and possibly quite counter productive to the aim of those shouting. Surely the solution is to carry out interviews within Westminster or provide a soundproof shed if and when external interviews are necessary.

Allan C Steele,

22 Forres Avenue, Giffnock.