What is it that Parliament doesn't understand about the sentence, "There is no other deal."? This isn't just a statement coined by bolshy negotiators who want to play hard ball with the UK. This isn't a bargaining chip to be disbelieved by canny experts at brinkmanship. It's a consequence of the Government's interpretation of the referendum result. They interpret "out" as a complete uncoupling from Europe with no trade arrangements which come with any other conditions. In that case, you need a hard border somewhere. The only way that Norway and Switzerland have avoided this is by accepting the free movement principle. It is one of the government's red lines that free movement should end. As one interpretation of the referendum I understand this, given the kind of rhetoric which was used to get the result. So there has to be a hard border, even from the UK Government's point of view, never mind Brussels. The paradox is that Parliament both wants it and detests it. It wants it because it delivers a solid uncoupling from Europe. It detests it because Ireland is joined to Europe at the hip. We either split Ireland in half, or we make Northern Ireland look like part of Europe and a poor relation of the UK (according to the Ulster politicians and many within the Tory party). Neither option is seen as acceptable. Talk about the past coming back to haunt us. Northern Ireland has been a rod with which the teacher History has beaten us well and truly for many years now.
So what do we think is to be gained by sending Mrs May on a fool's errand? The gung ho Brexiteers will like this as it uses up precious time and brings us to a "no deal" scenario with ease, and that's what they want. Some of the Remainers like this too as they hope that the consensus in Parliament will overrule this possibility and steer us back to a more robust linkage with Europe. I personally favour a more robust linkage with Europe for many reasons, but chiefly because I do not like isolationism. It is a disease which is spreading like cancer through many countries and gives rise to a fearful nationalism which looks on the incomers with hostility and jealousy and blames them for everything from overcrowded schools to a health service which doesn't pander to every need of the deserving righteous.
I also do not like the idea that there is a game of them and us going on. This pathetic wishful thinking about having our sovereignty restored to us is a result of seeing Brussels and the European Parliament as the enemy, making rules in order to squeeze us, bleed us and legislate away our freedom to abuse workers, ignore global issues, and generally disregard the welfare of workers and the vulnerable with disdain. We are all human beings. European laws are made for the good of the majority. Together we are better. Our own country is has enough variety in it to make arguing for parts of it to be independent a very credible discussion. The North of England already sees the South as the enemy of its material well being and casts an envious eye in Scotland's direction. So please let's not endorse that point of view. That will bring us back to tribal fiefdoms and feuds between villages ten miles apart. And still we won't be one tiny bit happier.
So that is why I do hope that as we near the end of March that the soft Brexiteers in Parliament will be able to seize control and steer us away from the "abyss" to which Angela Merkel has been heard to refer. But what will actually happen is anyone's guess.
So what do we think is to be gained by sending Mrs May on a fool's errand? The gung ho Brexiteers will like this as it uses up precious time and brings us to a "no deal" scenario with ease, and that's what they want. Some of the Remainers like this too as they hope that the consensus in Parliament will overrule this possibility and steer us back to a more robust linkage with Europe. I personally favour a more robust linkage with Europe for many reasons, but chiefly because I do not like isolationism. It is a disease which is spreading like cancer through many countries and gives rise to a fearful nationalism which looks on the incomers with hostility and jealousy and blames them for everything from overcrowded schools to a health service which doesn't pander to every need of the deserving righteous.
I also do not like the idea that there is a game of them and us going on. This pathetic wishful thinking about having our sovereignty restored to us is a result of seeing Brussels and the European Parliament as the enemy, making rules in order to squeeze us, bleed us and legislate away our freedom to abuse workers, ignore global issues, and generally disregard the welfare of workers and the vulnerable with disdain. We are all human beings. European laws are made for the good of the majority. Together we are better. Our own country is has enough variety in it to make arguing for parts of it to be independent a very credible discussion. The North of England already sees the South as the enemy of its material well being and casts an envious eye in Scotland's direction. So please let's not endorse that point of view. That will bring us back to tribal fiefdoms and feuds between villages ten miles apart. And still we won't be one tiny bit happier.
So that is why I do hope that as we near the end of March that the soft Brexiteers in Parliament will be able to seize control and steer us away from the "abyss" to which Angela Merkel has been heard to refer. But what will actually happen is anyone's guess.
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