May the farce be with you

Still on the same tack. All things Brexit. Those who enjoy more the "meaning of life" type of Blog need read no further. 

Well, just to say that the demand in the UK is growing for a second referendum on membership of the EU, according to the polls. Yes, Opinion Polls are not always reliable, yet I would say that a trend is, if the same question is asked over a time period and the very same methods of extrapolation used. Whatever, hopes rose of a second vote when our PM Theresa May insisted that in "no circumstances" would there be one (sic) 

The demand grows

I am active on Facebook and so the majority of this Blog is lifted from there. Enjoy or ignore. 

May the farce be with you:- UPDATE.

With even the Pro-Brexit lobby ( Press and those born with silver spoons in their mouths ) speaking of the Army being called in come No-Deal Day, Mrs May cries out "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people". Yes, take comfort in these preparations by our Strong and Stable Leaders. In our famous British stiff upper lip fashion, we will all queue in an orderly fashion to receive our very own can of Bully Beef, handed out by what is left of our Army.

A typical Brexiteer?

And what is all this in aid off?

"To regain control of our borders".

REALITY:- we have never lost control as far as Commonwealth citizens are concerned. For EU Nationals, the explicit directive of the EU is that "freedom of movement is NOT an unqualified right". We retain the right to deny entry to any identified as posing a threat to "public policy". Again, we retain the right to deport those posing any such threat. 5301 EU Nationals were deported in 2017, a 20% rise on the previous year. 

Free Movement - But NOT an "unqualified right"

"To become once again a sovereign nation making our own laws".

REALITY:- what sovereignty have we actually lost? EU laws have always been more about food hygiene and lift safety etc than Government Policy as such. Our crisis in the NHS, police, army, education are ALL of our own making. 

"We will spend our own money as we see fit"

REALITY. All reputable analysis shows that there will be NO Brexit dividend, no extra money at all. Currently we each pay just 1p in the Pound to the EU of the tax we pay. This contribution ensures Food Supplies ( in the form of Farming Subsidies ) and also goes towards building up the weaker European economies, thus addressing the so called "migrant crisis" at source.

"We will be able to negotiate our own Trade Deals".

REALITY. The implication is that they will be better. Why? We surely cannot get a better deal than we already have with the countries of the EU. In fact, the likely outcome is that any deal will be worse. China? My own view is that the UK will not be able to get anything better than what is negotiated by the EU, which has the clout of 27 countries behind it. Why or how could it be better? The USA? Really, anyone trusting the word of Donald Trump must be living in La La Land. The US Farming Lobby, one of the strongest, will surely insist upon our accepting food standards set lower than the EU's, thus impacting and jeopardising our food trade with the EU. The US Pharmaceutical Companies are very keen to get more of a grip on our NHS. And again, really, WHY would any deal be better than that already negotiated by the EU? 

La La land

What is left? The Commonwealth countries, most who remember how we treated them when we joined the EU. India has already intimated that any new deal must include making it easier for their Nationals to gain entry visas to the UK. Thus in such a case, we "lose control of our borders".

Lastly, it must be remembered that we are not speaking here of additional trade.

The WTO rules? Jacob Rees-Mogg, a great advocate of such, was exposed on a Radio Phone-in as having not a clue what they are. But we can always hope for the best. Jacob tells us it will be 50 years before we know the full impact of Brexit. Unlike Jacob, the vast majority were not born with an inheritance of £120 million to cushion them should the impact be bad.

Mr Rees-Mogg (I'm saying nothing)

The story so far:-

1. A large number of people, mainly those who favour a de-regulated economy of low taxes and low wages, never accepted the result of the EU Referendum in the 1970's. Mainly Right-wingers with very little sympathy towards what we could call "the rest of us". By means of control of the Media, mainly the Express, Mail, Sun and Telegraph - all owned by multi-millionaires, one not even British - a continuing tirade of stories, editorials and news items was constantly released blaming virtually each and every wrong in our country on the EU and/or Immigrants. 

2. In an attempt to end all dispute within his own Party, Dave Cameron called a Referendum. A referendum that according to the constitution of our country, grown organically over 800 years, could only be "advisory". The vote was to Leave. Dave retired to his shed to join the fairies at the bottom of his garden and write his memoirs.

Dave Cameron heading for the bottom of his garden

3. Since then the "will of the people" must be obeyed. All who oppose it are dubbed "undemocratic" , "traitors", "enemies of the people" and "saboteurs" (and worse, as I have found to my cost on Tabloid Comments Sections ) For those aware of the inter-war years in Germany, such slogans can be understood as indicators of a nascent fascism.

4. But we MUST go ahead. Just as someone who accepts a proposal of marriage must go ahead. Even after finding out that their future spouse is a serial killer who is already married. "Democracy" DEMANDS that we go ahead.

But as David Davis, ex Brexit Secretary, himself said, "a Democracy that cannot change its mind is no longer a democracy."

The worth of our EU Nationals.

1. Virtually all young and able bodied, here to work. Statistically less liable to be on benefits than our native population, and making a net contribution to the Exchequer. Therefore not a drain on our Services at all. (Please, for any real "drain" look first at deliberate underfunding by our current Government)

2. Our Services, mainly the NHS, are suffering a growing staff crisis as many EU Nationals, feeling unvalued and unwanted, return home.

On this last point, there was a spike in racially motivated hate crimes immediately after the Referendum result. And apparently the Police are preparing for another spike soon after we leave the EU next March.

To be honest, I feel ashamed. "Getting our country back"? Heaven help us.

The Daily Express at it again

A final word detailing the activities of those spoken of as driving Brexit:- Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski, raised in England since the age of 7, born in Poland (ironic?) Doubles his MP's salary as a consultant for the Electrum Group. This group are investors/speculators in "safe haven" assets, notably gold, known to grow in value when economic catastrophe looms. Mr Kawczynski writes on the news site of Arron Bank's, co-founder of the Leave.EU Campaign. His latest pieces have argued for a Hard Brexit, for Mr Rees-Mogg as PM and of the virtues of Donald Trump.

Gold spiked in value against the Pound just after the Referendum result and can be expected to make further gains following any Hard Brexit.

While thousands may well lose their jobs, plenty of speculators will consider it a job well done.

(Thank you "Private Eye" - a UK satirical and investigative magazine - for the substance of this particular story)

All rather sad considering that many claimed to have voted Leave to give the Establishment "a kick in the teeth." At least we can be reassured that Mr Kawczynski - and many more like him - will be well able to afford a new set of dentures)

A typical cover of "Private Eye"

That's all folks. Namu Amida Butsu!

But maybe a further word, of "nascent fascism" and of the "can't happen again" mentality. Just after the end of WW2 came the partition of India, into India, West Pakistan and East Pakistan. Millions of people forced to move home. Yet, by comparison, nothing compared to the trauma that WW2 inflicted upon Europe. Compare now. Some analysts consider the subcontinent as being the place where a nuclear conflagration is still most likely, trade is sparse between Pakistan and India, and more often than not they are on opposite sides of most international issues. Yet the thought of (say) France and Germany being again at war with each other is now unimaginable. The EU, for all its faults, for all the challenges ahead, has created this climate of peace and reconciliation. 

It is said that Steve Bannon, chief architect of Donald Trump's unlikely election triumph, now tours the EU capitals, seeking support for his far-right agenda. Such a man (however mocked by some), such an agenda, poses a danger, given the rise of the various right-wing, Nationalist Parties across the continent. 

Can it all happen again? 

The latest art work of my Grandson, who in 50 years time will know the outcome of Brexit.