Four years ago today, we woke up to the news that the country had voted to leave the EU. At that time I wrote;
I voted to leave because I do not believe the EU is democratic. It is a project created by the politicians. It has become a self serving, corrupt, Byzantine bureaucracy that has become more important than the people it is supposed to serve.
I remain of that opinion. We just have to hope that Boris and his team can negotiate an acceptable trade deal before the end of the year.
There is no nuance, there is no attempt to understand, there is no tolerance
A subject I will no doubt be referring to a lot over the next few weeks is the book I am currently reading, The Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff. One paragraph struck a chord with me;
By shielding children from every possible risk we may lead them to react with exaggerated fear to situations that aren't risky at all and isolate them from the adult skills that they will one day have to master.
Primary schools have today reopened to Years 1 and 6, but according to a survey by the National Foundation for Educational Research, as many as 50% of parents will not be allowing their children to attend.
With reference to the above quotation, I am not suggesting there is no risk associated with reopening the schools, but the risk of young children contracting covid-19 is tiny, and the risk of serious ill health amongst those children is vanishingly small. I worry that the exaggerated fear prevalent amongst some parents will do little to help their children learn about risk and how to cope with it when they are themselves adults.
Of course, my opinion is one amongst many, and the parents concerned will do what they believe is right for their children. I wonder how many people with contrary opinions will however be outraged!!! by my comments? Quite a few I imagine, it is after all the norm these days. I can't remember where I read it, but at the beginning of the current crisis there was some hope that the nation would come together, that the collective response would help heal the rift caused by Brexit. For a while, there was some unanimity, but not now. The country is again split, with neither side prepared to accept that although the other may have different opinions on how problems should be solved, we all have the best interests of our society at heart. You're either with me or you're against me is the mantra by which many live their lives these days. There is no nuance, there is no attempt to understand, there is no tolerance.
Sadly I can't see that situation changing any time soon.
The Brexit saga rumbles on. Parliament has been unable to reach a decision. Theresa May has resigned. The Tories are now fighting a leadership contest that won't be resolved until the end of the summer. Meanwhile, some MPs are trying to pass legislation that would make “no deal” illegal. And all the while, Corbyn is trying to engineer a general election.
The EU have agreed to a flexible extension, a flextension, until 31st October. My first thought was one of resignation, wondering when this whole sorry process will be concluded. On reflection though, perhaps 6 months is what is needed. As the old adage goes, divorce in haste, repent at your leisure. A 6 month pause will provide time for all concerned to take a deep breath, take stock of the situation, and decide how best to proceed.
Of course, 29th March was the day the country was supposed to be leaving the EU. That has been postponed, to allow Parliament time to try and resolve the omnishambles. Today they vote, for a third time, on Mrs May's deal. There is no more prospect of it passing now than on the first two occasions. Why bother with it, and what happens next?
Could you explain to me how a bad deal becomes a good deal simply because she agrees to step down?
Theresa May says if her Brexit deal is passed, she will then resign. Many Tory MPs may now decide to back the deal. Could you explain to me how a bad deal becomes a good deal simply because she agrees to step down?
Clearly this has more to do with Tory infighting than what is best for the country. I am heartily sick of the whole fucking bunch of them.
Parliament has wrested control of the Brexit process from the Prime Minister
Now what? Parliament has wrested control of the Brexit process from the Prime Minister. The MPs plan to debate the options, but will that get us any further? No one faction in the debate has a majority, so there will have to be compromise, which means we will in all likelihood remain hitched to the EU in one form or other.
One has to ask though, why this conversation didn't take place 2 years ago, why Mrs May didn't speak with the various stakeholders, and establish what could be agreed, before she even triggered Article 50.
And so it goes on. Theresa May has obtained an extension, the deadline for the withdrawal from the EU moved from 29th March to 22nd May. That is on the proviso MPs accept the deal on offer, the one that has already been rejected twice by Parliament.
If as seems likely the deal is rejected again, then the next deadline comes on the 12th April. By that date TM would have to come up with an alternative plan, and ask for a further extension. If the EU refuse that request then we leave without a deal.
Our MPs, whether Tories or Labour, are the most inept and incompetent to have graced Parliament in my life time. They are more concerned with party political posturing than trying to achieve an outcome that benefits the country.
Joseph de Maistre, an 18th century philosopher, said
In a democracy people get the leaders they deserve.