Brexit: good, bad or ugly?

I started out in life as a Brexiteer or leaver and voted in the 2016 referendum to leave. I also campaigned for UKIP in my earlier life, but now I am having second thoughts.

Before the plebiscite, it was more of a talking shop, but when push came to shove it concentrated the minds (that is afterwards). I, like many of the others, thought that those that wanted to leave would be hammered, but the tables were quickly turned and before you could say Jack Flash we were out… only that we aren’t. Three years on and we are still debating whether to leave, get a deal or just go back in. The MPs jointly stuck their fingers up at the general public and democracy and said, up yours and we will fight with every ounce in our body to stay in (overturn the democratic will of the people). MPs believe they were Gods, amongst the chickens. The bubble had spoken, and the bubble was going to insert itself.

Once we said we were out, it concentrated the mind, as I said. What focused my mind, even more, was when the Iranians highjacked our tanker and we didn’t have a clue what to do about it. We were no longer a power that threatened or could do anything, other than collectively or being America’s poodle. Of course, it wasn’t just the Iranian piracy that focused my mind, it was just one of many self-analyses.

Of course, we don’t know what would happen when or if we leave. We could shine, or we could collapse and end up being nearer to a third world country. What we do know, if we stay in, is that things will be similar as before, with the European Union changing and adapting (to what, is the question). But with us inside we could contribute to that shaping of the Union.

Where I have trouble is if we stayed in, then the split in the country will get worse.  Those that voted “out” will be hostile and no doubt the European Union will continue to be a divisive figure, dividing the country even more (if not the rest of Europe). If we went back in, then the country will never know whether we could have made a success of our independence away from the Union, or not. The only way to kill this albatross would be to get out and see what happens. A dilemma.

It is also telling us something that if we went back in – with a gun to our heads – it would leave a strong message that the EU will destroy anybody that leaves its Empire. What bargaining power does one have if we disagree? Threaten to leave? We would have tried that, only to be forced back at gunpoint.

On top of all that we could end up breaking up the Union (UK). Even staying in the European Union will be an unknown path.

The trouble is, so much is going through my mind that I am not sure what would be the best policy if we had another referendum. Of course, it might be taken out of our hands and the politicians decide for us. A recipe for disaster. The MPs are already a hated group. Even those that voted to stay have contempt for those politicians' arrogance on the matter. They know better as we the public are imbeciles and still need our bottoms wiped.

The clock is ticking and I feel that Boris has one rabbit left to pull out of the hat and, whether a no-confidence vote forces his hand or not, he will take us out and any election will be held after we are out.

Where the marmite character of Boris is lucky is that his only challenger is an incompetent fool who the public don’t even trust, let alone some of his own labour MPs. On the other hand,  we could end up with a coalition/ alliance of Remainers on one side, and those that are Brexiteers on the otherside (a cacophony of radicals from all parties, now there is a thought!). Some may say, “not a bad idea”. After all, British politics needs shaking up, and I agree, but even that won’t solve the issue. The country is split, whatever the outcome (majority is) and can only leave a bad taste in peoples mouths. In fact, in all this, the people could be forgotten (as it is now). So, nothing changes.

Then again, if we are out the country might come together (albeit, on Party lines) and it could be a straight fight between Boris the spider and Jeremy the radical… unless you consider Boris the progressive and Jeremy the dogmatists. Who knows? It is all semantics in the end. We are going into uncharted waters or, as I would say, the Twilight Zone… you can already hear the words: “You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension—a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over into the Twilight Zone of British politics”.

What a Carry on. I can hear the country as a whole shouting “Infamy, infamy, they’ve got it all in for me.” Yes, the entire episode looks like it has come out of a Carry on set.

The drama shall continue, whatever happens on the 31^st October.

By Don Scully