A few people have been posting on
Facebook today about how they are sick of hearing about Brexit. I sympathise,
but today will be one of those days that goes down in history as the United
Kingdom formally starts the process of withdrawing from the European Union.
Personally I think this is a bloody stupid thing to do. Regardless of the petty
political whims of the day, we are better together in a union than apart and
squabbling. Leaving the EU is a total leap into the unknown and I’ve yet to
hear any reasoned arguments in favour of leaving. For all that those wanting to
leave claim they don’t want to be subjected to ridiculous rules and regulations
from Brussels, I’ve yet to hear any specific ones mentioned.
I could be wrong. I hope I am wrong. But
in the meantime those immigrant workers who do the jobs that the average Brit
is either too lazy to do or is unqualified to do are going home in droves.
There are those who are calling for a
second referendum. That would be wrong; we had a referendum. On the one hand
the remain side (lead by Mr Cameron)
said that leaving would be a total leap into the unknown. On the other had the
leave side (lead by Boris Johnson)
said the remain side’s fears were unfounded because they would be:
·
Delivering
the same benefits on trade as currently enjoyed by single market membership.
·
Having
new trade deals ready to be signed on the day of departure from the EU.
·
Investing
savings from Brexit in public services. including increasing NHS funding by
three hundred and fifty million pounds each week.
·
Having
no changes to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
·
Keeping
full protection of rights currently guaranteed by membership of the EU,
including on employment and the environment.
·
Having
a security deal that “maintains and
enhances” such cooperation with the EU.
·
Keeping
the integrity of the UK protected.
·
Having
a strengthening of science and research partnerships with the EU.
·
Ensuring
a dramatic reduction in net migration while “keeping the UK open to the talent and skills that UK business need”.
Looks like I was worrying about nothing,
doesn’t it… However the one about increasing NHS funding by three hundred and
fifty million pounds each week turned out to be a total fabrication. Listening
to Radio Four every morning has made it quite apparent that the trade deals are
*far* from a done deal. What will
happen with the Irish border is anyone’s guess. From my own experience the
science and research projects are going down the pan.
It is now painfully evident that the
likes of Boris Johnson not only said that black was white, they also said that
shit was sugar. It is quite clear that those who voted to leave because of what
they had been promised were lied to.
I wonder how it will all pan out… A
second referendum would be silly and would undermine the whole concept of
having a referendum in the first place. Who knows – it might not be an
unmitigated disaster. It might actually turn out for the best. But if it
doesn’t, perhaps those on the “leave”
side who made these wild and unsubstantiated promises might be held to account
for them.
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