IN the event of a no-deal Brexit, the UK Government may not be able to raise certain taxes. No 10 retorts it’s May’s deal or no deal and the clock ticks on. The Westminster set-up is in a cul-de-sac, a (good) non-British word – how ironic at this time.

All the inconsistencies and contradictions which have surfaced in Westminster are now narrowing down to this. We have gone from no deal is better than a bad deal to this bad deal is better than a no-deal!

On the arch-Brexiteer side, a no-deal is the epitome of what the “British voted for” in the referendum. This is another complicated bit of sophistry as they had argued that a deal post-Brexit would be easy. But May’s deal is a withdrawal deal and the real deal to be dealt with is what comes after March 29.

But this is made problematic by the backstop, the DUP and the fact that it pleases neither Remainers nor leavers! Theresa May, however, is cussed and determined to have her way out of a sense of national duty.

Parliament, the nation and the Westminster-based Anglo-parties are in ferment as the never-to-be-used no-deal preparations are rolled out and millions, nay billions, are allocated from the money tree.

Something has to give, or maybe not. ArMaygeddon is looming, built upon the reckless glide path set in motion by a Tory party which is riven and has no majority due to a PM who went for broke and ended up broken, unstable and enfeebled.

It may be that a no-deal Brexit will take place. What does Theresa May care about? The repercussions will not have to be faced by the current PM. She will not lead her party, or what will be left of it, into the next election.

Then it will become obvious to the people south of the Tweed that they have no right to entitlement, the EU is not going to bend its four freedoms and that the duopoly party leaders who wittingly and unwittingly brought about this mess will be consigned to the political scrap heap.

The greatest faux pas since the Suez crisis will indeed consign the UK to oblivion through its own contradictions and it will go the way the three continental empires went in after the debacle of 1918.

John Edgar
Kilmaurs

FOR me, there is one major difference between Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond – their background in working life. One was an economist for RBS and the other was a lawyer knowing all the skills of playing the political game of the house of cards.

I understand that the Scottish Government’s supporters are getting impatient, as I too hope that 2019 is our year for independence. However, I also appreciate that the table must be cleared of all Brexit tricks before a new hand is dealt.

A new plebiscite is required but it must be one that we can carry out without Westminster interference. And it is safe to assume that Theresa May will try every trick under her setting sun to prevent it.

It makes no odds what the polls say, as everyone has been different through asking different questions. And the fact that Alex Salmond raised the bar from 25% to 45% is neither here nor there. That was four years ago, when independence was a new venture. The latter figure has remained constant, raising a few more points since 2016.

Charles Maitland (Letters, January 8) argues a higher figures but which I believe represents a response for different questions.

Sturgeon knows that the time is drawing closer and that, within a few weeks, we will all know what Westminster will settle for with regard to Brexit. The First Minister has a plan. She has not been sitting on her hands all this time as sadly, some have suggested.

I have always believed that our Government has been discussing and planning another referendum. I am confident they have also been sorting out where 2014 failed and why, and correcting the fault lines, so that those who would seek to still suggest that Scotland is too small, too weak and too poor are, as always, still talking rubbish.

I fully believe that this new year of 2019 will be the year that Theresa May sees, not only her precious United Kingdom become a third world country, but also that the UK will disintegrate into its four component parts.

Alan Magnus-Bennett
Fife

LOVINA Roe (Letters, January 8) challenges Nicola Sturgeon and Mike Russell to explain their wish to keep an independent Scotland in the EU.

I should like to challenge Lovina and any others who have similar views, to explain their vision of an independent Scotland free of English rule and free of EU rules. I would be interested to hear their explanation of how this country would fare out in the big wide world, alone, without big England or even bigger EU looking after our interests. Even in England, we see the Brexiteers wanting to take back control from the EU and give it to the USA.

Is this, Lovina, what you want for Scotland? Please will you tell us what you see as the future for an independent Scotland?

Robert Mitchell
Stirling

READ MORE: Letters (January 8)

IN response to J Kirk (Letters, January 8) regarding railways and subsidies, I wholeheartedly agree that we need a not-for-profit railway.

As a regular user of Lothian Buses in Edinburgh, if we get the chance at renationalising our railway in Scotland we have a model to follow right on our doorstep.

Here in Edinburgh we enjoy a terrific, award-winning bus service which provides regular, clean, modern buses, excellent wifi, bus tracker apps and reasonable prices – especially when it comes to monthly bus passes.

Lothian Buses have also expanded in to East and West Lothian. Have a look at Lothian Buses Facebook page – the love from the public is evident there in huge doses on a daily basis.

Let Lothian Buses run Scotrail!

Tracy Crawford
Edinburgh