UNLIKELY as it may seem today, Theresa May could yet turn out to be recognised as one of the most remarkable prime ministers our country has ever had (“Downing Street: Brexit vote will go ahead next week as planned”, The Herald, December 7).

By negotiating an agreement that satisfies neither side in the Brexit debate the public has finally been allowed to learn the true facts of the matter: those the public ought to have been told prior to casting our vote. Here are three examples:

* The forecast that, in the event of our leaving the EU with no deal, GDP will shrink by 9 per cent traded in against growth of 0.5% from new trade agreements worldwide.

* The threat of Brexit has reduced immigration from the EU where all citizens, at least in principle, share a culture based on 1,000 years of Christianity. Against this there has been a rise in immigration from countries outwith the EU where some cultures can be very different. Was this really what those who voted Leave wished for?

* The Scottish Fishermen’s Association has convinced many, including some Conservative politicians with seats and incomes to defend, that control of “our” waters must not be regarded as a bargaining chip to be cashed in against trade deals elsewhere. Yet the vast majority of fishermen prefer the present situation that allows them to transport and sell their catches into Europe without delay or penalty; as Mrs May’s deal also would. SNP, take note.

As a final piece of clarification, would somebody please explain precisely what the European Research Group is all about? The public ought to be allowed to see a list of participants; are there no Labour politicians in it?

Before the 2016 referendum, it was thought that an un-whipped vote in the House of Commons would result in a majority of more than 100 MPs in favour of Remain. Without the facts, the public voted Leave. Recent events at Westminster offer some hope of a return to a situation that might allow our country to get back to business.

Ian HC Stein,

8 Ochlochy Park,

Dunblane.

I NOTE that Heidi Nordby Lunde, a Norwegian Conservative politician, has ruled out the Norway Option for the UK; that it would not suit it, the European Economic Area or the European Free Trade Association; my preference gone. She spoke in the context of the UK having a “grown up debate”. This, to me, is the problem. We have, and have had, a lot of posturing round British nationalism and separatism, but very little coherent policy that would maintain our prosperity, or better it.

A prime example are the statements of David Mundell, a Minister of the Crown supposedly representing the Scottish interest in Cabinet. He has done nothing of the sort, given Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU. He proclaims that the proposed May deal to be his choice, even though it will slow our rate of growth, have an unknown outcome for fishing and render Scotland to be less attractive for investment and trade than Northern Ireland.

Mr Mundell has previously threatened resignation over these issues but has gone back on his word, preferring a scatter-gun attack on the Scottish Government for trying to secure a better outcome for Scotland (and the UK); something that should be his job.

I have no idea of our destination on Brexit. The minority ruling party in the UK is split, as is the opposition whose leader seems clueless. Fortunately we won’t now have a meaningless TV debate over empty slogans. An election (another one!) won’t happen, but some want a new referendum (while hypocritically denying Scotland one), though that in itself will be highly divisive unless it is won by a substantial majority; not a given.

Where is Mystic meg when you need her?

GR Weir,

17 Mill Street,

Ochiltree.

WITH the damage limitation and headless chicken antics of the besieged Prime Minister and her supporters more indicative of “not waving but drowning” than measured debate, and those calling from the Brexit morass for a now informed second EU referendum challenged as undemocratic, it is perhaps timely to remind, again, the democratic-when-it suits-them brigade that we got into this mess with a 37% vote to Leave from the total electorate of 46,500,001 eligible to vote in the EU referendum in 2016.

LoL. ( Lies, obfuscation, Lemmings ).

R Russell Smith,

96 Milton Road, Kilbirnie.

ALEX Gallagher (Letters, December 4) sees enormous difficulties in the separation of Scotland and England. He is mistaken. The formal relationship is much simpler than that which exists between an EU country and the EU. He seems to be unaware of the smooth and successful separation of our neighbours in unions such as the Sweden-Norway and Slovakia-Czech republic unions.

He sees difficulties for an independent Scotland. Yes, there would be difficulties if the economy did not change. It would be our task to change the economy by creating new industries which generate new wealth and employ people. The Danes, the Norwegians, the Swedes and the French have shown us the way. Mr Gallagher’s Labour party has done nothing along these lines. He seems to want to coorie doon’ in the status quo; not for me.

John Fleming,

34 Kessington Drive, Glasgow.

In January 2017, then Brexit Secretary David Davis said he would negotiate an agreement delivering” the same benefits as we have” while leaving the single market and allowing the UK to sign trade deals with the rest of the world.

This was quite the most crass and ridiculous statement made by a British parliamentarian since Gordon Brown claimed in 2007 that he had conquered “boom and bust”.

There are good reasons to dislike the deal Mrs May has brought back but surely those who do so should be able to come up with practical alternatives or have the honesty to say they support either “no deal” or “no Brexit”.

Rev Dr John Cameron,

10 Howard Place,St Andrews.

CAN we suppose that, if the SNP won an independence referendum, Nicola Sturgeon would be happy to see a group appeal to the UK Parliament to have the right to stop the proceedings and retain the status quo?

James Watson,

20, Randolph Crescent,

Dunbar, East Lothian.