Brexit is the worst decision of modern times. Why are its critics in cabinet so silent?

[Mike 03]

Guardian
Michael Heseltine
Sun 13 Dec 2020 04.00 EST

The UK will soon be on its own – sovereign, in charge and control regained. Yet none of that creates jobs or ensures a glorious future

After a lifetime close to the workings of government, I approach drafting an article about Brexit for a Sunday publication with trepidation. Both sides have said a decision will be taken on today, but not what that may be; and anyway, can you believe that any decision will really be the last?

What I do know is that both sides will be presenting the story that best serves their negotiating positions and pleases their most important audiences. Facts are in short supply; there is a plethora of spin.

“Taking back control” will summon up the blood of British patriotism. The union jack prominently displayed before the negotiating table reinforces the demand for sovereignty, while a few asides about cheating foreigners reinforce national prejudices. The leadership necessary to listen to the other side, and understand where compromises may lead, all too soon becomes a cult of nationalism led by the most extreme of partisan groupings.

“I will have my cake and eat it” is rather a good joke on this side of the Channel. It has a quite different implication for the rest of Europe where sovereignty matters as well – theirs, not ours.

I don’t know exactly where all this posturing will end up by January; but I do know that – deal or no deal – we will in theory and in practice be outside the European Union. That is the policy on which the government was elected; they have a mandate and I would not vote against their legislation. I believe that it will be seen as a Tory measure and I will have nothing to do with it. This government will be – and should be – held responsible for quite simply the worst peacetime decision of modern times. I know of members of the cabinet who believe this as firmly as I do. I cannot understand their silence.

Read more at link: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/13/brexit-is-the-worst-decision-of-modern-times-why-are-its-critics-in-cabinet-so-silent

[patricia92243]

1. Their citizens voted for it. n/t

[abqtommy]

2. That's technically correct, but the process in 2016 was corrupted as was the presidential

vote in the U.S. Plenty of info available about the whole mess there and here but a delayed
push-back hasn't kept enormous harm from being done. To everyone. In both cases following
the money reveals all.

[Denzil_DC]

3. A high proportion of our citizens voted for something.

That "something" was kept deliberately nebulous - "Brexit means Brexit", "red, white and blue Brexit" etc. - amid repeated and heated assurances from many, including the current prime minister, that it would not mean "no deal", that it would not affect UK citizens' freedom of movement etc. etc., and anyone who claimed otherwise was indulging in Project Fear, unpatriotic, a traitor even.

The bald majority for leaving the EU - whatever that meant to those who voted - has been ratcheted up to the eventual heights of stupidity that we see currently.

So no, I don't believe "Their citizens voted for it." It's a lie.

[LeftishBrit]

4. 52% of those who voted

'A 52-48 result would be unfinished business by a long way' - Nigel Farage, leader of the Leave campaign, when he thought there might be a narrow vote for Remain. He actually used those very numbers!


And only 50% of constituent countries of the UK. You would need 75% of the States for a constitutional amendment.

And NOBODY (including the Leave leaders) were forecasting No Deal!

[T_i_B]

5. Brexshitter idealogical purity is pretty much all the Tories care about

And that clearly matters more to Johnson & Co than competence or attention to detail. How else can you explain the rise of bad politicians such as Gavin Williamson and Priti Patel?

[LeftishBrit]

6. Yes.

All the Tories with any brains (such as Heseltine) were kicked out of the party, or left in disgust.