I admire my friends who think we will stay in the EU. I wish I shared any of their confidence. I can't see it happening.
I suspect that Lord (Bob) Kerslake accurately reflected the opinion of the civil service at the weekend when he said that he believes they will advise ministers that they must put leaving on hold because of the damage it will cause to the country. I cannot, however, see them acting on the advice. The Tories are too fearful of Johnson and Rees-Mogg to do so. Nor will they call an election for fear of losing it, and no one else can force it. Nor I suspect does Labour have the willing: I am far from alone in thinking Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell are entirely happy about leaving. In that case I can't see how March 29 can be avoided.
But nor can I see any agreement being reached beforehand: none of the key components, whether they be willing, competence, or the political capital to deliver any proposed settlement, exist to make that possible. We are, inevitably, and by default, heading for hard Brexit as far as I can see. I would love to think otherwise. I admire those who are willing to put their efforts into seeking to avoid this disaster, which might be the biggest self-imposed act of economic self-destruction in very many decades, if not centuries. But, it would appear that the only outcome of which we are capable is the worst, which is leaving without a deal. I would love to be wrong for once: I simply doubt that there is even the smallest chance that I am at present.
The best we might hope for is that this then might be the catalyst for the absolutely essential change that is required if British society is to be reformed. But even that may be optimistic. It may instead permit something much worse to develop.
If anyone has a way of avoiding disaster might they say so now? The time for avoiding it is fast running out.
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Typo? “I am far from alone in thinking Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell are entirely happy about leaving. In that case I can’t see how March 29 can be avoided.”
I’m struggling to even see my typo this time
What putting ‘leaving on hold’ looks like is an issue just as much as what what GB&Ni will look like when we’re finally out, and Bob Kerslake has avoided answering this. Perhaps he thinks we will still take part in the election of MEPs in May 2019, but as you say he is hopelessly wrong on this and we could remain a member without representation and a Commissioner, and where what influence we do have is achieved not through the ballot box but through cold hard cash being offered for influence.
We will be like one of the biggest businessmen in the Parish. The Parish Council will still suck up and grant your wishes even if you are just one person with one vote because that’s how money works. Neoliberalism will have won again.
And democracy ( which did not elect Bob Kerslake or ask him for his opinion ) will be the loser.
I am not at all clear as to what you are saying here
It seems very confused
Maybe Oliver Cromwell had an idea of what to do for a start:
“It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice.
Ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government.
Ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.
Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess?
Ye have no more religion than my horse. Gold is your God. Which of you have not bartered your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?
Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defiled this sacred place, and turned the Lord’s temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices?
Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation. You were deputed here by the people to get grievances redressed, are yourselves become the greatest grievance.
Your country therefore calls upon me to cleanse this Augean stable, by putting a final period to your iniquitous proceedings in this House; and which by God’s help, and the strength he has given me, I am now come to do.
I command ye therefore, upon the peril of your lives, to depart immediately out of this place.
Go, get you out! Make haste! Ye venal slaves be gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.
In the name of God, go!”
A man from, literally, just down the road from me
Oliver Cromwell or Guy Fawkes?
What is amazing about what Cromwell said is that it is indeed so apt today!!
I mean, it really is………………..
My advice?
LEAVE. If you can get out – go. I know English people doing well in Canada, New Zealand , Germany. My kids are doing German and are enjoying it. We hope they can work over there one day perhaps?
Some people have suggested they learn Mandarin – Chinese? But I don’t feel that China has got its head around how to regulate capitalism yet. It comes across as the ‘Wild East’ and I’d worry that my kids would not be safe with Trump next to that red phone.
Seriously though – I hope that we do pull out of EXIT at the brink but as I’ve said before, if we do leave with a bad deal or no deal, the results will speak for themselves I’m afraid and we will be banging on the door for them to let us in again very quickly.
I wouldn’t recommend that. Once out, to get back in might necessitate taking on the Euro and that would be a catastrophe. It is a failed system. It does not, and with its present design, can’t work. So, once out, I an afraid that we might have to stay out.
You do not know that
The commitment is to join the euro one day
It is completely open ended
This is, then, not an issue
Well said Oliver. Then what happened?
What happened was that the Royal ‘cling-ons’ worked themselves back into the public consciousness – the epitome of which were the Windsors. All part of a long term plan to take us backwards. The Tories are not a mistake!
So. Is that the answer? A military dictator? A Cromwell or a Bonaparte or a Franco, to displace the fractious indecisive venal “popular” assembly? I am not sure that, with austerity cutting into the army so that it is a tiny fraction of the size it was, and with defence expenditure so concentrated on useless aircraft carriers and nuclear subs, there are insufficient actual soldiers to enable any would be Cromwell to seize control of Westminster and Whitehall and keep control the rest of the country. That is a highly improbable scenario. Maybe a Mussolini type civilian “March on Rome”? Or perhaps the Trumpian answer. A “businessman”, a strongman, ruthless, brainless, vindictive, ferocious, mendacious, with no allegiance to liberal and enlightenment values, a dealmaker who knows only the language of crude power. Is there someone around who can lead a popular/populist revolution to drain the swamp and make Britain great again. Can you see Rees Mogg as a Cromwell? Hahaha! Puritanical yes, but strong and brutally ruthless – er, no.. Farage as a Hitler/Bonaparte/Lenin/Franco? A fierce manic driven force hungry for power? Too lazy. No backbone. Weak blowhard. Mike Ashley? Philip Green? Tommy Robinson perhaps? Nah. Only speaks for a very small section of the populace, and plain repellent. No. Strong man dictatorship isimprobable – there is nobody on the horizon who has any of the qualities needed to seeze control of the country and banish Parliament. Ultimately, a government of national emergency will have to be appointed by the Head of State, a 92 year old lady who has (and I say this even though a non-monarchist and critic of power inherited by birth) devoted her life dutifully to the wellbeing of her country. Perhaps there is a Ramsay MacDonald figure around – Chuka, Hilary Benn, Yvette.
I think you are being far too literal in your analogy seeking
What has happened to this country? We collectively resemble one of those unfortunate caterpillars injected with a parasitic wasp’s egg – our parasitic wasp is neo-liberalism and we seem determined to believe that ‘there is no alternative’ – as that horrible instigator of the system used to say. At the present time, our caterpillar is nearly eaten out and visibly dying.
Only the young wasp will survive, to go on to infest others. There are countries all lined up for it.
Clear, if depressing, article. For us Scots who voted to remain 2 to 1 there is a route: Independence. I have many friends in England. England has many virtues and proud achievements. But I think it is going to have to go through the consequences of Brexit to learn what being a middle sized European country without an empire actually entails. I hope this learning experience is not too painful for England or Scotland.
Scotland needs to make the break and avoid being dragged under. Big change is coming; the status quo is not an option for any of us.
I’m applying to move north….
My Grandad was a Scot. Died after the Great War. If Scotland became independent, I might hope to get Scottish nationality. Trouble is, there are millions in England who likewise might consider themselves eligible for Scottish citizenship, even though living south of the border. Could a Scottish government allow a situation where the majority of its citizens lived outside Scotlasnd and may never have even visited Scotland? For myself, the alternative might be Italian citizenship. Granny and Grandad Italians. But applying through the notorious Byzantine Italian Bureaucracy, and getting documentation that may have been destroyed in the Anzio landings, might make that alternative no less accessible than Scots citizenship. I suspect that there are millions of English people who are like me qualified for alternative citizenships – Irish, French, German, Italian, Indian, Jamaican etc: one of the consequences of Brexit might be that in the years after Brexit, England and Wales or the UK could have a resident native born population that had as much as 30% non English/British nationalities.
There is absolutely nothing to be done until a general election is called – and I’ve never heard yet of a democratically elected rightwing government being booted out by the people.
‘Brexit’ of sorts will happen maybe — but Hard Brexit, no-deal Brexit, or cliff-edge Brexit is not going to happen for a number of reasons. This discussion takes no account of EU (re)positioning, and assumes the EU is unyielding. Already, Britain is not in Schengen, it doesn’t use the euro, and it’s not in a range of other EU treaties and agreements. So in a sense Britain has always been half in the EU anyway. Over the next three or four months the deadline will inevitably be kicked further down the road. It’s not in the interests of the UK Govt. nor the EU to let a cliff-edge happen. In fact, the most likely scenario at the March 29 deadline, is that nothing actually happens at all. If it has to be – the can will be kicked down the road indefinitely. Nether side are going to commit hari kari — the Govt incumbents maybe deranged, but they are not insane.
I wish I shared your confidence
I think they are frightened enough to do it
Simple really. We leave in March, and never finish the negotiations. The government surreptitiously turns “blind” Brexit into “never” Brexit. The 27 will be secretly thrilled – all of the trading opportunities with an empty chair at the organising committees, and technically we will have left. Yes, less influence than, say, Estonia — but it might, just might, keep the UK together. I think this has been May’s strategy all along, if so she is playing a blinder.
I’ve been waiting for the Cromwell quote – and typically it has had to be delivered from outside the smug centre of spinelessness that is Westminster. Spot on (bar its religious commentary) nonetheless.
I am afraid, also, that I share your pessimistic realism. The scale of this idiocy is truly ‘historic’. I’ve scanned European history and cannot find its rival – let alone its equal – at any time or in any place. Scotland alone, should be able to escape.
Northern Ireland might parachute as well….
Wales, I fear not
And England – for England this is – will sink to a status possible unknown since Aethelred the Unready in about 1016
Aethelred the Unready? Wasn’t he the last English born Saxon king for a generation, succeeded by by a Dane who incorporated England into a larger European empire? The wise Cnut/Canute – demonstrating to his sycophantic courtiers that his powers were limited, by showing he could not command the tides? There may be some message in that historical allusion that is applicable to Brexit Britain today.
I didn’t search for inspiration wholly at random
Wales might – I believe it’s looking to do so.
My contacts there are in several parts of the Principality – north, mid and South. Many of them are saying ‘why are we allowing this to happen? We’ve been subject to the English and their vagaries for far too long – and now they’re dragging us to disaster in their wake.’
About half of them voted to leave the European Union – all of them have changed their minds. Most say that the long years of austerity triggered a reflex action – ‘hit the elite!’ – and they’ve been looking around and seeing all the things that Europe has helped to build.
It probably won’t be Plaid who reap the benefits, though – Bevan’s still remembered with something like reverence.
It will be a challenge but Scotland could set the precedents
Jeni Parsons – I don’t know how your Welsh contacts can sleep at night! As for England dragging them into this disaster! Well – it’s a pity they didn’t look around them a bit harder before they voted! You can’t move in Wales without tripping over EU funded projects. I’m pleased that Wales has finally seen sense, but sadly far far too late.
What an apt description of the current government. If only……..
Disaster it is when a majority of the nation can’t even coherently figure out where the money comes from for their much desired wish to have the government balance its books! This argument being further supported by the reality those who needed “compensation for globalisation” had this ruthlessly removed by the Tory austerity cuts and this same majority hardly blinked an eyelid!
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/centres/cage/manage/publications/381-2018_fetzer.pdf
I put it to you that Real People seldom have the time to consider these issues Schofield.
They are too busy trying to live in the gig or overworked economy or are reacting to what the media says about the latest figure of hate blame or playing with the new technology they have in their hands.
Distractions, manipulations and commitments is why people do not find the time to think about these things.
And our much vaunted National Curriculum doesn’t even address where money comes from. The best info I’ve ever seen about educating people about money is from a Citizens Advice Bureau practice I worked on a project with.
But by then, it’s too late – people are usually in trouble.
We need more ‘up-stream’ education about money, credit etc., in this poorly educated nation.
@ Pilgrim Very Slight Return
I think your argument is utterly wrong. How can you engage in informed voting without making the effort to understand the three M’s Morality, Money and Markets all of which need to follow the fundamental underlying force of life that of balancing? Your lack of time argument doesn’t add up. What on earth was and is the tradition of going to church, synagogue, mosque all about at least once a week if not to make sense of how life should be lived? Sure religions have failed to deal in any meaningful sense with the last to “M’s” in terms of relating them to Morality but the reasons for that are socio-political but not automatically exclusionary. Your argument runs the danger of of moving on to become fascist that of condoning serfdom because the “people” lack the capacity to understand detailed arguments or theory!
I think some care in language is needed here
You may disagree with PSVR but you are on the same side and I think more recognition of that is required, please
Violent revolutions (a la Cromwell and others) doesn’t usually lead to long-lasting improvements and kills many innocent and not so innocent; elections often replace one set of “venal slaves” with another, and as said, Labour’s leadership are quite happy to leave. Unless the people rise up, peacefully then disaster will be the result.
I find I am more optimistic about Brexit than I am about the deal for Greece which has agreed to run budget surpluses until 2060.
There is a massive dissonance between the austerity enforcing EU as it actually exists on the continent and the magical progressive institution remainers imagine and tweet endlessly about.
Have you noticed we are not in the Euro?
No but we are in the Stability and Growth Pact which restricts the fiscal options of any UK government.
Further than that I do not want to be part of any institution that is capable of inflicting such cruelty on it’s citizens. EU officials are indicating that they see this outcome as a massive success, essentially it is proof that they are able to inflict any level of austerity within the Eurozone and the affected population have no recourse to defend themselves. Italy will no doubt be the next battle ground.
After the war there was a best selling book -‘The Guilty Men of Munich.”
I await “The Guilty Men of Brexit”.
There are the recognised stages of development as a country moves from agrarian under-developed to advanced industrial, but this is always seen as a one way irreversible process. Personally, though, I can’t see any reason as to why it would not be possible for a country to revert to poor and backward. It certainly happened in the past to the classical civilization of Rome (the city of Rome went from a million population in 410 AD to about 55,000 in 600 AD (largely after the water supply failed when the aquaducts were cut off in 542 AD), and then again to China after 1400. I think a disastrous Brexit could well see the UK (or more likely rUK without Scotland) end up in Greek style poverty. Maybe that is what Rees Mogg wants so it can be him in his 18th century mansion and a few serfs tending to his needs and garden.
“Guilty Men” is not a very good example. The history was poor – and it sold plenty during the war. The young Michael Foot was one of its authors and it was published by the pro-Russian Gollancz. It helped to cement a lot of myths about the pre-war period – not least because Labour politicians, who’d always voted against rearmament, and Churchillian Tories, previously out of favour, who were building their own myth of pre-war patriotic wisdom, could agree to trash the Tory led National Government, who had actually bought the right arms in just about enough time to survive the real Battle of Britain… That’s the one that the odious Farage and the self-servingly ignorant Johnson are now invoking! So maybe – it is a good example, if only of the utility of self-serving bad history to unprincipled politicians. Groan, face-palm etc.
When a proper history of these times is written, it will be interesting for our impoverished children to discover (or not?) who were the myth-makers and why. Yet the truth of these days is already so fantastic – who will believe it?
Nigel, I admit I have not read the book and I have in the past thought pre-war Labour might not have re-armed in time. So I take your points.
However, my hope is that the real betrayal of our best interests by a manipulative cabal of right wingers, is properly recorded.
Taken literally, the question begs a dilemma. As everyday life in England continues to deteriorate there is a temptation to get out while you can, assuming one has the requisite resources (most don’t) and a superior destination (quite a few of those available). I admit that I do suggest to younger people that it’s something they should at least consider.
If my circumstances were different I’d certainly be tempted. I have friends in SW France who enjoy a culturally rich and modestly sustainable lifestyle, confirming Rod White’s post elsewhere (http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2018/08/19/the-uk-is-not-just-suffering-shit-life-syndrome-were-also-suffering-shit-politician-syndrome/#comment-812860). OK, yes, France is still within the neo-liberal matrix but, for whatever reasons, its effects appear to be less destructive than here, especially outside the big cities – https://www.thelocal.fr/20170808/how-quality-of-life-improves-when-you-move-to-france.
If it succeeds in achieving independence with a progressive government then Scotland would appeal – and even more so if the weather was better.
Both my sons have opted for the Far East, which isn’t everyone’s cup of coffee. You’ve got to relate culturally and have a thorough understanding of the local mores. However, apparently it’s an ever more popular destination, especially among retirees. And still good value for money, even with a devalued pound.
However, on the other hand, there is also a civic responsibility towards future generations to stay and fight for change. However, those obliged, or willing, to stay should fully understand what’s going on and the likely outcome unless they take some form of defensive action – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-I90EtZO9Q.
Difficult times, for sure. And no easy solution – unless you’re a member of the neo-liberal power élite causing the problems. In which case you’re free to live wherever you want.
“Ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.”
That sums up voting Brexit for me. It’s not about the money. Let’s elect politicians who can show what a courageous state is really like. The EU can continue to disappear down its own undemocratic path led by the placemen of the neo liberal billionaire elite. At least we get the chance to vote out their UK placemen politicians like Boris and Theresa.
There’s still some hope of averting this disaster.
Time is short but the calls for some kind of peoples vote on the deal – or no deal if that is the only available option – appear to be growing. The case can be argued and won for a vote on just how, or if, we leave the EU.
Key to this is whether the Labour party can stir themselves into pushing for it.
I know, I know the signs aren’t that encouraging, but next months conference could prove a turning point.
Keep the faith!
D ‘ you agree with any of this ?
ED NOTE
I could not post and so comment as the material was all copyright
Perhaps not all things Brexit are as bleak as you suggest Richard. The UK courts have yet to decide on the Brexit process in at least two forthcoming cases, one awaiting an appeal hearing on whether May’s art50 notice without a constitutionally valid “decision” is legal…
https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/a50-chall-her-e50/
Another, challenging on grounds the 2016 ref was fought fraudulently and must therefore now be ignored as legally invalid…
https://ukineuchallenge.com/the-case
And the ECJ itself has open doors to be asked by any concerned citizens from anywhere in the EU to intervene in the Brexit process…
https://www.legalcheek.com/2016/11/could-the-european-court-of-justice-really-rule-on-brexit/
Whatever one’s opinions of the judiciary, the UK is still several steps from being in danger of simply falling out of the EU by accident, as it were.
Ultimately our courts will not challenge the government on such an issue
They will allow wriggle room, in my opinion
If the UK courts allow May’s government too much wiggle room, both risk enabling claimants to refer their case(s) to the ECJ. In which case, I cannot see it letting May’s UK government off the hook, since the European courts wouldn’t want to give a green light to any of the remaining 26 to crash out of the EU citing the illegal route the UK used – i.e. / e.g. not adhering to both clauses of art50, or allowing the fraudulent 2016 referendum result to stand. Perhaps part of the recklessness of May’s government rests on a (devious) calculation that it thinks the courts will ultimately decide on the legality of Brexit as it stands, and do the job of saving the Tory party from generations in the political wilderness, by neutering the rabid Tory right Brexiteers for her?
Labour need to put a ‘larger EU/UK’ end goal in place. First, it needs to demarcate a Labour exit from the Tory one. This involves fighting for a vote of no confidence in May, in the Commons. Bringing about a General Election – not another referedum. Labour cannot though, simply do yet another NeoLib, ‘means’, ‘no ends’, approach to the problem of the negotiations with the EU, or they will go under in the first year of office. They cannot go to the people with the Blairite, ‘well, our own team can negotiate a better deal -in secret of course- than the Tory team’. This is hopeless.
We need Labour to offer the British voters, in advance of the coming General election, a New European Deal (not a simple Brexit) . Many on the political left and right, would fight for a UK ‘Confederation’ model for our parnership with existing Federal EU. A Confederate UK membership, links those countries who wish to state, openly, clearly, in advance, they will never join the Euro, single currency or a EU defence force, or accept fully intergrated taxation with the EU. Thus, never submit to the full Federal vision. Trade border issues can then be worked out over time. This means that the old EU convergence, and any new convergence laws/tools are not appropriate for this country, and will be honestly,and in good faith, revoked or modified – as the House of Commons decides, once it has been to the people. This is not an old twin track ( so called, fast/slow) to full Federal unity. Labour needs to found our new EU partnership, as stated, on the solid, macro economics, of never joining the Monetary Union. Thus, Labour needs ,politically to adopt the clear macro fiscal/monetry economic reasons for the new status and explain these ideas truthfully to the voters too.
Finally, I should add, a worked out Confederation Partnership, would then be the natural end point for, Italy, Spain, Greece, whoever the German NeoLib state attacks next. In short, this wider ‘teleological’, ends move, would be worked out by Labour for the UK in the first instance. But other Left parties in Europe, understanding that they too have to regain their borders, currency, legal and industrial policy at some point in the future, support the wider UK goal and model. (Or they face being picked of by Germany and the banks, one by one, when they come to power in their own countries – assuming their democracies can last the next five years).
I know, a crazy idea, much easier for a Blairite, Labour Party to just fudge, change definitions, and tough it out for years, pretending the referendum leave vote never happened and hope to stay in power. It will indeed strain with every sinew in its body to do this… But this alternative, wild idea, only needs a core of respected Left, politicains, journalists, Labour members, bloggers, etc to shift the debate away from Tory/NeoLiberal politics, to visions of a new Left UK/EU Confederation partnership. As many here know, the irony is that the macro economics is already place, what we need now is political vision, confidence in our people and bold leadership.
Sorry, No, none of the above. I just realised we have indeed run out of time! What were our options again RM?
We’re out of stock of options
Sir,
Watching this unfold from Malaysia may have allowed me a slightly different perspective. Like you I cannot foresee how Brexit may be forestalled. In this negotiation, it is the Uk that has to compromise but, as you have highlighted, this is not forthcoming. This, has for me, confirmed that there is a 99% chance of UK heading towards a (no-deal) hard Brexit. In any event that some compromise is to be found, ERG will scupper it. Hence the 99% chance. I am confident in this because those in the ERG and associated parliamentarians will benefit handsomely financially if a hard Brexit to happen. I guess following the money will make most sense here.
This leave us with the questions of NI, Scotland, Gibraltar, Wales and god knows what other UK territories that may end up blindsiding the political establishment in London. I am however going to bet that the UK/English will chuck out everyone of them if it is politically expedient. Except for Scotland. They will fight for it be tied to UK/England because it is the golden goose so to speak (again following the money). This is, I believe, where money is left outside of London’s financial and services sectors.
I am further confident that an independence referendum in Scotland will take place before 2021 as per the manifesto. I am not too sure how soon. As far as I can foresee, the earliest is by September 2019. If Nicola Sturgeon is bold, then she will hold it before 29 March 2019 but she being the cautious type, I am not inclined to give that much merit.
This whole mess made me appreciate two things; 1) the whole European unity project/idea, and 2) in this era an economic union/cooperation is a necessity. For me personally, ASEAN should be further brought closer on the said union/cooperation. The bigger your economic clout the better you are able to negotiate.
An interesting perspective and as a Scot who want independence I agree with your comments.
Your final sentence gets to the heart of the matter and is one of the prime reasons Brexit is such a folly and not just economically. Europeans have been a destructive force for getting on for the last 1000 years – Crusaders, “New World” discoverers & colonists, slavers, oppressors in India and China, imperialists in Africa… Everywhere we’ve gone we’ve brought death and destruction, not least in our own back yard.
The EU has been and still could be a force for good. It’s helped keep the peace in Europe for around 50 years which is a major achievement but has also done so much more, and although it has somewhat lost it’s way more recently, and is facing social and economic problems thanks to the neoliberal hegemony and a resurgent hard right in certain quarters perhaps if we can regain the spirit of cooperation you mention then the EU might go forward again. Unfortunately with our current crop of politicians this seems unlikely, certainly not in the UK.
I fear there be a catastrophe across the UK after Brexit, as many others do.
I am Scottish and am deeply concerned that our economy will be decimated, even more so than the other UK countries.( this is a fact) This Tory government has to be the worst in living memory, possible a lot longer than that.
The UK is a hell hole under this government, one where their personal wealth is more important than peoples lives across so many levels. Just look at the main Tory Brexiteers, they are all wealthy, they have the money to withstand Brexit
while ordinary people do not, they have no shame and they look to profits, from a loss in value assets across the UK, ordinary people in all corners of the UK will pay the price, that they will not. Wake up good people of England, foresee what is coming, and it is not rosy as they would make you believe.
Only the Scottish Government has the power to change course. It is worth readers here, have a reminder that in our Island and the 4 nations of the UK, only Scotland and England are signatures to the Act of Union that created the entity called the UK. It was meant to be a Union of equals, that was what was signed up. It is a voluntary Union, which essentially means the either side can leave it, should they wish.
So, with the rising clamour for Scottish Independence, now made much more urgent by Tory policies, aided and abetted by Labour who also support Brexit, and most other Tory policies by
abstention, there is no room left for choices.
Scotland will have to leave the Union to safeguard our people and our economy. The ONLY economy in the UK which has exporting surpluses every year. The peoples of England have brought this about, due to being fed constant lies by Brexiteers. I wish English people would do something about it to save themselves, sadly that seems unlikely, but I live in hope.
So do not think too harshly over Scotland’s likely YES vote for Independence, we are only saving what is dear to us, I really wish England would wake up to what it has created.
We are heading currently towards a no-deal brexit, as the current UK government doesn’t want to meet the red lines of the EU (that are actually treaty bound red lines), the UK’s tactic has been all along to change the treaty of the EU to its liking by blocking immigration, allowing independent UK courts to rule over ECJ, while keeping 3 of the 4 freedoms (capital, goods, services, but critically not people). EU has been firm all along, and I don’t expect (and hope) that the EU changes its position on the 4 freedoms, as that would then lead to other countries asking for changes to the EU treaty (which is ultimately what the brexiteers want, as the only real way to leave the EU is to destroy it). That’s my reading, which is why farage / johnson / et al. seem to want to support far-right and nationalist movements across Europe as their strategy from austria, hungary, italy to the national front in france. So we’re in an impossible stand-off, and it won’t be solved any time soon I fear … a progressive position (like Another Europe is Possible), is to argue for deep EU reform and put the ‘social Europe’ as the defining principle of Europe, where we have a social pact that will guarantee basic rights over paying creditors, or budget surpluses. Many leftist / green forces back it, and if social democrats move in that direction more clearly, then it may get a majority.