WELL done Alison Rowat for defining the awful predicament of the UK “between a rock and hard place” on Brexit and for nailing the truth about how we came to be in this mess (“Shame on Conservatives for putting party before country”, The Herald, March 28). A frighteningly rigid prime minister, excluding devolved governments from discussions, driving her agenda only on the basis of what was best for the Tory Party, has pressed on (it seems now quite manically) to this disaster.

As protests continued and challenges appeared more significant – killing time, avoiding scrutiny and debate to force Brexit upon us at the deadline – this has become the cold-blooded strategy of Theresa May’s Government for the last three years.

That and the abuse of power through bribery and contempt for Commons procedures are the real scandals and general disgrace of her administration to enforce the dubious result of a referendum campaign in 2016, now exposed as a series of cynical lies and propaganda, presented with arrogance and deluded nostalgia for the age of empire.

Nearly six million people have signed the petition to revoke Article 50 and remain in the EU. The Scottish Parliament, united apart from the Tories, has endorsed this petition unless provision is made for a second EU referendum.

The right to revoke Article 50 was established by MSPs – from the Liberal Democrats, Labour, the SNP and the Greens at Holyrood – but opposed all the way to the European Court of Justice by Mrs May’s chaotic but ruthless Westminster administration.

Brexit has revealed some awful weaknesses in what was supposed to be the “Mother of Parliaments”. It seems the greatest confrontation is now between different understandings and levels of respect for the meaning of democracy itself. As one of the leading Tory Brexiters, David Davis, recently reminded us, democracy also depends on having the right to change our minds.

The determination of the Tory Government to deny this right must be confronted urgently – and be overcome.

Frances Mckie,

20 Ash Hill, Evanton, Ross shire

IT really is telling how the concept of democracy or the lack of it has been bandied about in relation to different subject matters and seemingly dependent on what is trying to be achieved.

For example, the usual retort from the Prime Minister when challenged to hold a second referendum to clarify the shambles called Brexit is to declare that to do so would be to undermine our faith in democracy given that the people voted 52 per cent to 48% to

leave ... fine and good, some

would say.

However, when it comes to Mrs May’s deal which Parliament rejected first by 68% to 32% , then by 62% to 38% on the second attempt and then again yesterday, it would appear that democracy has been suspended ... double standards, some would say.

It is time to get real before we fall into the black Brexit hole which our children and grand children will have to live with – and all because of democracy.

James Martin,

43 Thomson Drive,

Glasgow.

ON March 26, the Department for Exiting the EU sent me a message to say that the Government would not revoke Article 50. On March 27, the Petitions Team told me that Parliament would debate the petition on 1 April. So the Government has decided not to revoke Article 50 regardless of the outcome of the Parliamentary debate.

Is this democracy?

Gudrun Geiling,

Achnacone Farmhouse,

Appin/Argyll.

ACCORDING to ancient legend, whoever could untie the impossibly tangled Gordian knot would become the ruler of all Asia. Alexander tried hard to undo the ropes, but eventually said “it makes no difference how they are loosed”, and sliced through the knot with his sword.

Today’s politicians arguably have slightly less grandiose ambitions as they seek to unravel the Brexit knot, yet imagine they too have what it takes to deliver on their own particular dream. Whether it is those with sights on No 10, or others who imagine their prize in terms of breaking up the UK, they should remember these fables have a habit of ending badly.

Alexander got his way but did not survive long to enjoy the glory. As the electorate reflects on those who played such games with all of our futures, the political ambitions of some of the current pretenders north and south of the Border might also be destined to be short lived.

Keith Howell,

White Moss, West Linton, Peeblesshire.

BEING an eternal optimist as well as a determined Remainer appalled at the political farce unfolding in front of our eyes, might I offer this interpretation of events?

What we are witnessing is democracy rejecting the utter stupidity of the vote to leave, albeit in strange and mysterious ways.

Posterity might be kinder than we think to this whole episode.

John Jamieson,

60 Craigie road,

Ayr.

SO all 35 SNP MPs fail to support an indicative vote to remain in the customs union; precisely what Nicola Sturgeon had spent almost three years telling us that’s what she wants.

At the same time, former SNP MP and Westminster group leader Angus Robertson’s polling company shows support for independence would grow in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Is there anyone left who hasn’t grasped that Nicola Sturgeon and the rest of the SNP establishment yearn for no other Brexit outcome than a no deal – in the hope that it’ll assist their separatist ambitions for Scotland?

Martin Redfern,

Woodcroft Road,

Edinburgh.

THERE is nothing new in the present debacle. In Phineas Finn, chapters 29 – 31, (published in 1869), Anthony Trollope describes the chaos in Parliament as a bill is defeated.

The statement is made that it cannot be reintroduced in exactly the same form.

Thereafter, the parties are split; the MPs all jockey for position and change their opinions as it suits them; it is even suggested that the queen should intervene and sort out the whole mess.

Have we reached that point

yet?

Marion Carson,

14 Boe Court,

Dunblane.