AS our country totters on the edge of a precipice, with Brexit looming, I reflect on how we reached this catastrophic situation.

I point to two key events, involving our two major political parties, namely the election of a new leader, with two more important decisions made further down the line.

After Tony Blair’s third electoral success, the Tories preferred David Cameron to Kenneth Clarke.

If the latter had been chosen, then I suggest that a European referendum would have been kicked into the long grass.

As regards Labour, if David Miliband had been selected, in preference to his brother, then David Cameron would have been acquainted with the long grass much earlier than he was.

You will have gathered by now that a common denominator emerges ie David Cameron. During his term in office he called for two referendums which have changed the face of Britain.

The first was independence for Scotland, which was rejected but divided the country. Secondly, having not learned his lesson, he introduced the European referendum which has provoked a civil war and a dangerous problem in Northern Ireland.

Whilst not wishing to go into the rights and wrongs of Brexit, the final outcome, unless some miracle occurs, points to an uncertain future in a weaker, divided Britain.

Maurice Baker, Spennymoor