THE traumatic political landscape in the UK is the product of our lack of a written constitution.

This absence led politicians and their advisers to a catastrophic error of judgement in 2015; making up the rules for the EU referendum on the basis of perceived party political advantage rather than being obliged to consider the stability of our nation.

Most democracies require that referendum proposals be backed by at least 50 per cent of the entire electorate prior to enacting constitutional change.

This high bar is set, in their written constitutions, precisely to protect the nation from chaos and uncertainty.

A proposal supported by just 37 per cent of the electorate, as happened in the EU referendum, cannot provide stability. As we can all see for ourselves.

Whatever side you were on, consider this: if over 50 per cent or 60 per cent of the entire electorate in each of the four nations of the UK – England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland – had voted for leaving the EU then we would not be in the mess we are in.

May and her advisers forgot that in democracies stability does not come from the leader, it comes from the people.

No settled public view, no change.

Christian Vassie, Blake Court, Wheldrake, York