NICOLA STURGEON is holding the gun of a repeat Scottish referendum to the head of Theresa May and the Brexit process.

In times gone by, such disloyalty would have meant incarceration in the Tower of London, or even worse.

Of course, the Scottish First Minister is bluffing, since the Scots themselves do not want another bruising referendum, and would certainly vote again to stay in the UK.

Nicola knows this, but is gambling that the mere threat of a referendum will result in a softer Brexit and/ or single market status for Scotland.

The First Minister is demanding a referendum in the autumn of 2018. Rather than arguing that a referendum should be delayed beyond that date, Theresa should call Nicola’s bluff by insisting on a Scottish vote this summer.

Such a vote would see Scotland reaffirm its loyalty to the UK, sink Scottish nationalism, end Nicola Sturgeon’s political career and clear the way for a hard Brexit.

What a wonderful combination of events that would be.

Steve Kay, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Councillor

THE United Kingdom is a democracy, thus any factor affecting one of its constituent countries must involve them all. It seems that Scotland wishes to hold another referendum to decide whether to declare independence from the UK, and the outcome, of course, would affect the people of England. It follows therefore that England should be part of that franchise and participate in any voting on the subject of Scottish devolution.

Such a move would be hugely beneficial to the SNP, as English participation in a vote on Scottish separation would absolutely guarantee that the separatists would prevail, and Scotland would exit from the UK.

It would, of course, be to England’s great advantage financially, when the wholesale redistribution of English tax-payers’ money to Scotland under the iniquitous Barnett Formula would cease, so releasing the many millions of pounds each year currently subsidising Scotland, back into the English economy.

The Scottish National Party must be permitted the opportunity to demonstrate that Scotland is a mature developed country in its own right, more than capable of successfully controlling its own destiny in the wider world.

Bobby Meynell, Stockton