The only way Theresa May can see to get Great Britain out of the European Union is to keep it in the EU through a back door otherwise known as Northern Ireland.
That door can't be closed until there is agreement with the EU about how to keep the border open between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland. Otherwise there will be Customs posts, border guards -- who knows, a Wall? -- attacks on the Black and Tans, informers and the Rising of the Moon. At the same time, there has to be agreement with Northern Ireland that closes the border against Ireland without producing Customs posts, border guards -- who knows, a Wall? -- attacks on the Black and Tans, informers and the Rising of the Moon.
Of course, achieving those two agreements is what Ms. May and the EU have failed to do through two-plus years of negotiations. So her solution is to keep the back door open until such time as they do agree.
The Twelfth of Never has been suggested.
Accordingly, she presented to Parliament an agreement to get out of the EU by staying in. Or, as the Brexiteers saw it, stay in the EU by getting out.
All that was very simple and clear.
What is odd is that the irate Members who hurled Mrs. May's dog's breakfast up against the wall and ordered in pizza consists of those who most want Britain out of the EU and those who most want Britain to stay in.
And we think we have problems.
Bad decisions like Brexit have a way of creating messes like this. Just imagine if Scotland hadn't chosen Remain.
ReplyDeleteIn calling Brexit a bad decision, I'm using my head (and seeking to apply Catholic social teaching). But I confess that my heart is with the Brexiteers, because the EU project has some unappealing aspects, and the Brexit process has really highlighted for me how unlikeable, repulsive even, the EU can be. If statesmanship reigned, the EU would be taking an approach most likely to make British voters wish to rejoin the EU. Instead they seem to be focused on making it so painful for Britain that no other EU members will contemplate doing the same bolt for the exit. That's just the kind of thing that is likely to stir nationalist sentiment in reaction.
Don't count on the mighty Scots to continue to put up with one London shambles after another. First Minister Sturgeon says she will have a new exit referendum (Told-You-So 2) ready in "weeks." The Scottish government has a bit of a sex scandal going on at the moment, which may slow things doon a bit.
DeleteThe main appealing aspect of the EU is that it was created in the process of stopping Europeans, especially French and German ones, from shooting at one another. At that, it has been spectacularly successful.
DeleteTo say nothing of all the Brits Germany killed during WW1 and the numbers that both the Germany and France (under German occupation) killed during WW2. You'd think the UK would stay in the EU just to keep another war from breaking out.
DeleteI confess I was surprised at the margin with which May's proposal was shot down. Maybe I shouldn't have been. Will there be a vote of "no confidence" now? And if not May, Jeremy Corbyn, or someone else?
ReplyDeleteShe won the no confidence vote because no one wants Jeremy Corbyn to be the PM, probably including many Labour Party voters. Irony, Irony....
DeleteFree trade, like environmental reform, needs to take place with a view to effects on all constituencies. They make these big changes in trade instantaneously with no projections as who the winners and losers will be, just pollyanna generalities that all boats will rise. But that never really happens. Thus, the suspicion of overarching trade agreements formulated by elites.
ReplyDeleteAnother important aspect of the EU is labor movement between EU countries. I suppose it could be argued that this also creates winners and losers. I believe the presence of foreign (but fellow EU) workers in Britain was one of the chief resentments of Brexiteers.
DeleteBritain also has many non-EU citizens who arrived to help them survive post WW2 labor shortages as well as those who believed themselves to be English as a result of colonial indoctrination...think India, Pakistan, Kenya, etc.
DeleteAnd while we're at it: There is a very fine irony that the Irish backstop is seen to be (I assume it is) the Gordian knot in May's proposal. Dare I say it: all those centuries of Colonial occupation of Ireland has made Northern Ireland the "tar baby" in the effort to leave the EU. Fine Irony!