How could Brexit be saved? I can imagine most if not all of you reading this will be put off by that title, or at the very least confused. This newsletter is all about how Brexit is a disaster and how we might campaign to reverse that unfortunate mistake. It rests upon core Remoaner territory. Why would I even ask the question around saving Brexit? Who the hell would want to save it?
And also, Brexies don't actually want Brexit to "succeed", what ever that might mean. They want a perpetual grievance machine, something which distracts them from ever having to look at their shallow unsatisfactory lives.
Yes. It's a comment I've seen very often that the perfect world for the Brexit true-believers was one in which the 2016 referendum was narrowly lost rather than narrowly won - because then Brexiters could continue to nurse their grievances and blame the EU for everything that was wrong with Britain, and they wouldn't have been put into the invidious position of trying to deliver on their promises and make Brexit work. The idea that Farage was visibly shocked by the win has become a truism in Remainer circles.
Brexies will never accept the idea of going back into the CU because were the UK to do that, the next, logical, linked demand, would be for the UK to go back into the SM. Great if you're a Remoaner, but the kiss of death for Brexit, because, once back inside the SM and CU, the clear next step is full membership of the EU, rather than just being a rule-taker
The word Brexit itself was virtually banned for a while and a lot of the media complied.
They even disbanded the "Department for Exiting the EU".
However, as you said, that ultimately failed because they kept pushing things tightly connected with Brexit, such as the incessant attempts to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement.
Nothing keeps Brexit more at the forefront of people's minds than constantly bickering about the very treaty that made it happen.
I love the way you run rings around those fools. Brexiters have always been cursed by the feeling that they’re on borrowed time. Nothing helps them: the referendum result, the massive 2019 majority, a supportive opposition. None of it makes any difference or gives them the breathing space to play the longer, wiser game you so helpfully suggest. They are doomed to paranoia and I actually think rejoining will bring them peace.
Brexit is programmed to self destruct because it doesn’t bear scrutiny, as you say, and because Brexiters can’t cope with even the existence of Remainers and - a word getting more and more airplay - Rejoiners. They always want to do absolutely everything immediately - which always results in such obvious mess. Their lack of strategy has been staggering. Real dearth of talent.
If the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal goes thru, and it's such a sham as Nick contends, I look fwds to Starmer recinding it the moment he gets into power. Or at the point that the EU will demand as a pre requisite for a Rejoin deal. Something makes me think those things won't happen. Of course it would be typical of the Tories not to conclude TPP membership before the next GE.
I'm afraid this is the first blog of Nick that smacks of self satisfaction. By all means push hard for Rejoin, but the mood music of this blog isn't registering with me.
I’ve not been reading your blog for long but this has to be the best article of yours that I have read. Succinct and very much to the point. Thank you.
Interesting article Nick. On another point, through old age / death, people changing their minds and youngsters reaching Adulthood the trajectory of support for Brexit is only going one way. By 2025 we could be looking at 70% support for either re join or CU/SM membership. This surely is unsustainable for any major party ?
And also, Brexies don't actually want Brexit to "succeed", what ever that might mean. They want a perpetual grievance machine, something which distracts them from ever having to look at their shallow unsatisfactory lives.
Yes. It's a comment I've seen very often that the perfect world for the Brexit true-believers was one in which the 2016 referendum was narrowly lost rather than narrowly won - because then Brexiters could continue to nurse their grievances and blame the EU for everything that was wrong with Britain, and they wouldn't have been put into the invidious position of trying to deliver on their promises and make Brexit work. The idea that Farage was visibly shocked by the win has become a truism in Remainer circles.
The term "grievance mining" had never a better example
Brexies will never accept the idea of going back into the CU because were the UK to do that, the next, logical, linked demand, would be for the UK to go back into the SM. Great if you're a Remoaner, but the kiss of death for Brexit, because, once back inside the SM and CU, the clear next step is full membership of the EU, rather than just being a rule-taker
To be fair they did try to follow suggestion 1.
The word Brexit itself was virtually banned for a while and a lot of the media complied.
They even disbanded the "Department for Exiting the EU".
However, as you said, that ultimately failed because they kept pushing things tightly connected with Brexit, such as the incessant attempts to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement.
Nothing keeps Brexit more at the forefront of people's minds than constantly bickering about the very treaty that made it happen.
I love the way you run rings around those fools. Brexiters have always been cursed by the feeling that they’re on borrowed time. Nothing helps them: the referendum result, the massive 2019 majority, a supportive opposition. None of it makes any difference or gives them the breathing space to play the longer, wiser game you so helpfully suggest. They are doomed to paranoia and I actually think rejoining will bring them peace.
They are doomed to do everything in haste as any moment of pause would allow people to think.
And even some of their supporters might not like what these thoughts arrive at
Brexit is programmed to self destruct because it doesn’t bear scrutiny, as you say, and because Brexiters can’t cope with even the existence of Remainers and - a word getting more and more airplay - Rejoiners. They always want to do absolutely everything immediately - which always results in such obvious mess. Their lack of strategy has been staggering. Real dearth of talent.
If the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal goes thru, and it's such a sham as Nick contends, I look fwds to Starmer recinding it the moment he gets into power. Or at the point that the EU will demand as a pre requisite for a Rejoin deal. Something makes me think those things won't happen. Of course it would be typical of the Tories not to conclude TPP membership before the next GE.
I'm afraid this is the first blog of Nick that smacks of self satisfaction. By all means push hard for Rejoin, but the mood music of this blog isn't registering with me.
I’ve not been reading your blog for long but this has to be the best article of yours that I have read. Succinct and very much to the point. Thank you.
Interesting article Nick. On another point, through old age / death, people changing their minds and youngsters reaching Adulthood the trajectory of support for Brexit is only going one way. By 2025 we could be looking at 70% support for either re join or CU/SM membership. This surely is unsustainable for any major party ?
At some point something has to snap.