The moment we said goodbye to it all

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I am a little surprised this photo has got as little attention as it appears to have done in the media:

I am, of course, aware that we are all Brexit weary. But I very strongly suspect that this photo represents three things.

The first is the defining moment of Johnson's premiership. I make clear; this is its highpoint. From here on it is all downhill.

Second, this is the moment when the economic, political and international decline of the UK  became normalised. All three have already been happening for years. But now they will be seen as institutionalised; a part of the fabric of the nation, adopted as a matter of choice.

And third, this is the moment when we said goodbye to it all. What is all? Despite all the weaknesses of the EU (and there are many) this is when, above all else, we gave up the right to live, work, travel and co-exist freely with your fellow Europeans. And that is a massive deal: this is the biggest backtracking on rights in our collective memories. That's enough to say we have said goodbye to it all.

There are moments when politicians put their signatures to documents that really matter. There may not be many of them. But this one does matter. And there is nothing good to say about it.


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