ALISTAIR Easton (Letters, October 24) argues that the only genuinely democratic way to resolve Brexit is to hold another referendum. He dismisses holding a General Election as he believes our current electoral system to be not only deeply flawed but also corrupt, which is quite a stretch.

I do not share his extreme view of our first-past-the-post system, but do think an Australian-style compulsory voting system would be a step in the right direction. As regards his criticism of what he terms tactical voting, is all voting not in a sense tactical, otherwise why bother voting?

Where I think his particular suggestion of another referendum is itself flawed is that it ignores completely the Leave result of the 2016 referendum as if it had never happened. It did, and the majority voted to leave. If another referendum is held, as Mr Easton wishes, to respect the 2016 result Remain should be off the table with the genuinely democratic question to be asked being whether to leave under the deal just agreed with the EU or under no deal.

Alan Fitzpatrick, Dunlop.

IT is incumbent on all of the Opposition parties to come together to support a vote of no confidence in the Government and then form a government of national unity to give the population at large the right to decide on leaving the EU on the basis of the proposed deal or stay in the EU.

They must not be gullible to the machinations of Boris Johnston to manipulate the issues tabled for a election.

Bill Eadie, Giffnock.

PERHAPS I’m being naive or missing the point, but I’m at a loss to understand how a General Election can change things. Unless there is a party with a workable majority there is little chance of an agreement.

The only way forward, it seems to me, is a referendum with clearly defined choices and a benchmark to be reached. I have written before stating that a referendum with only 37 per cent of the electorate cannot be "the will of the people".

Gordon W Smith, Paisley.

I AM fascinated by your columnists and correspondents who press for a second referendum on the merits – or otherwise – of leaving the EU.

We electors in Scotland have been involved in two referenda in the past five years or so. The first was confined to those who lived in Scotland, in the second, we participated as a part of the UK. Both referenda were called with the aim of providing a definitive settlement of major constitutional questions. However, they conspicuously failed so to do, since hardly had the reverberations of the returning officers' declarations faded away, then those on the losing side were demanding re-runs, or seeking to overturn the result, sometimes resorting to cunning plots and legal wheeze.

Do people really believe that another referendum would have a different outcome, especially if – as is likely to be the case – the margin of victory for one side or the other is probably going to be fairly narrow?

Christopher W Ide, Waterfoot.

THE machinations and self-importance of politicians associated with Brexit over a prolonged period, and the uncertainties and concerns generated for the population as a result, provide much food for thought.

Voltaire once opined in the 18th century that the Holy Roman Empire was "neither Holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire". What do we see when we now consider Great Britain and Northern Ireland?

Well, most would concede that we have been something less than "Great" for some time now even although Rule Britannia still gets sung with gusto in some quarters. The future of Britain must be regarded as being on a shaky peg with Scotland, having voted 62 per cent to remain in the European Union, effectively being ignored by Westminster during the Brexit negotiations. Moreover, recent opinion polling has shown more Scots in favour of independence.

What of Northern Ireland? The DUP, hoping that Northern Ireland's position in relation to Great Britain would not be diminished by the Prime Minister's recently concluded deal with the EU, have been disappointed in spite of previous assurances and can be forgiven for feeling that their Britishness has been watered down. In addition, the support for a United Ireland appears to be on the increase.

Many in England have already expressed the view that they wish to have Brexit, even at the cost of Scotland leaving the Union and, as day follows day, it looks more likely that they may get their wish and thus being able to "stop shovelling money over Hadrian's Wall'" as was once said. While the geography in that remark was less than accurate, the sentiment was perfectly clear. The future for Great Britain and Northern Ireland is looking increasingly uncertain and fragile, with its foundations being slowly and surely undermined.

Ian W Thomson, Lenzie.