A FEW comments on Ron Hill’s letter of August 23.

Firstly, consider how we select the Prime Minister. The last two were selected by the Tory party: Boris Johnson by 90,000 party members, in 2019, Theresa May by Tory MPs only, in 2016.

The previous PMs were selected as follows: David Cameron (Conservative) in the 2015 general election, by the electorate, with a clear majority.

Previously, in the 2010 general election he achieved a working majority, in coalition with the Lib Dems. Before that, Gordon Brown (Labour) took over from Tony Blair in 2007, selected by Labour MPs only.

Previously Tony Blair had won outright victories in general elections, in 1997, 2001 and 2005.

I suggest the most legitimate selections were by the British public at general elections: David Cameron and Tony Blair. The other three were only selected by their own party members: Brown, May and Johnson.

Secondly, regarding the 2016 referendum: a 51.8% Leave vote to 48.2% Remain is hardly “emphatic”.

Now, three years on, a deal has been rejected three times by MPs. If Boris Johnson gets a better deal, no doubt he will put it to Parliament. If MPs vote for it, the matter would be decided. If not, stalemate again.

In the case of stalemate, surely the new deal must be put to the people, with the alternative option to remain in the EU.

This would be a more meaningful referendum, with two known choices: leave with a better deal or remain in the EU.

Then the no deal option of crashing out of the EU can be finally rejected.

John Tomblin,

Littlemoor Road

Weymouth