Yes, that thing called Brexit is fast approaching what some might term the "end game" i.e. the date 29/03/19 when the UK officially leaves the EU. I say "leaves" but as at this date the draft agreement now on the table between the UK and the EU seems merely to offer a long transition period in which a future trade deal and final relationship can be negotiated! Quite extraordinary that over two years of negotiation has merely resulted in how long will be given to negotiate the "final" deal. Never mind, on 29/03/19 we "leave", this as a result of triggering Article 50. (Please note that the EU Court is soon to declare whether or not this Article can be revoked)
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| A good question |
The UK is now on its third Brexit Secretary, who is rumoured to be someone who merely popped into Number 10 to read the meter. Whatever, the first, David Davies, has, since leaving his post, come up with many great ideas as negotiating tactics. The second, Dominic Raab, finds the deal he himself negotiated "unacceptable".
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| I blame him ( Nigel Farage ) |
Well events move on and the latest Opinion Polls show a strong majority who would now wish to remain in the EU. Alas, democracy has already had its day and spoken, the "will of the people" was set in stone over two years ago and there will be no People's Vote ( at least, according to Theresa May, who is not always reliable on such things ) 700,000 marched on Westminster to demand one, but democracy must be defended; while PM Theresa May claims a second vote would cause us to "lose trust in our leaders". The mind boggles.
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| A boggling mind |
The ardent Brexiteers, having lost the argument on virtually all fronts, now retreat to the claim that the vote to leave was "always" solely about "sovereignty". Our right to make our own Laws, self determination and all the rest of it. This, they claim, is the basis of "all". This is what those in the past "fought and died for". Yet is it all as simple as that, or are we here hearing only soundbites?
Surely those who "fought and died" were individuals, each having their own thoughts on exactly why they chose not to be conscientious objectors. And they were called to fight by the leaders then simply because the various nation states of Europe were unable to settle their differences peacefully, without resort to arms. The EU was formed to seek another vision, one of co-operation where perhaps the sovereignty of its individual nations could be tweaked in order to bring forth a unity of purpose among its peoples. The great British statesman Winston Churchill - who called upon our citizens to take up arms - was himself a supporter of that European vision, arguing that our sovereignty was not inviolable if partly sacrificed towards a greater good.
But no, those who "fought and died" are hi-hacked by the Brexiteers - just as the Leave Vote has been hi-hacked to become the indisputable "will of the people". Those who spoke before the Referendum of all the various "softer" options regarding the UK's future partnership with the EU suddenly, in victory, became very vocal in insisting that "leave MEANS leave" - and the previously unknown term "Hard Brexit" entered the English language.
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| Brexit MEANS Brexit - the harder the better |
At the last count there are now three main factions amid our Leaders ( for whom we must not lose trust ) seeking to give us "what we voted for", with each group determined not to actually ask us what it is we want now. There are even more factions seeking to tell us what will happen next, and even more accusing Mrs May of various things ( having been a declared Remainer in a previous incarnation, some are suspicious of her ultimate motives )
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| Another good question |
And so we British stumble on and a demographic map of just who remain in favour of a "hard brexit" makes any lover of the United Kingdom despair. Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and large swathes of England are now more in favour of remaining in the EU, with those for Leave reduced to areas previously associated only with the "Tory Heartlands". And to add, for good measure, the findings of another Poll, that 79% of Tory voters in favour of Brexit view the end of the Irish peace process as a "price worth paying" to obtain their ends. Desperately sad.
The final insult provided by the Brexiteers is the accusation that the possible failure of the whole process to bring a good result is the fault of those who voted Remain and who have since not "accepted the democratic will of the people". Yes, we are to blame!
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| One of the guilty with no place left to hide |
Ever since the very first Referendum to take us INTO the EU a large section of the population have never accepted the result, have constantly been a thorn in the side of every successive Government seeking to make our membership of the EU work. The so called "euro sceptics", mainly of the Tory Party. Then a large portion of the British Press, poisoning the atmosphere, blaming virtually every failure of successive governments on "the EU" no matter what the actual underlying cause. Until Dave Cameron, PM, seeking to heal the divide and the split in his Party once and for all, called a totally unnecessary referendum. Constitutionally it should have been "advisory only" and - with hindsight - perhaps a proviso that for such a possibly so great a constitutional change, the necessity of at least a 10% margin for any winner to be declared. But alas, no. Confident of victory, Dave ploughed ahead.
So it all unfolded, and now the Remainders are to blame for the whole debacle while dear Dave C himself has retired to the sidelines, to a garden shed, to write his memoirs (rumour has it that having reached the chapter to be devoted to his "achievements" he has succumbed to writers block and has got no further)
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| Recommended for Writer's Block |
Well, events will now unfold. The "Deal" - still to be finally ratified by the EU - must be presented to the UK Parliament and passed. Betting odds suggest it will fail to be passed. But who knows? Does a "No-Deal" await.........another Referendum............a General Election.
Apparently the Army is ready.
