stupid, stupid brexit…

When Mr Putin – that demigod of democracy – tells us that the UK should not hold a second referendum and insist that Mrs May “should fulfil the will of the people”, you just know something is wrong.
After a week of utter chaos at Westminster and a time when confidence in UK politicians appears to have hit an all-time low (in my lifetime, at least?), we’re left with an apparent choice between Mrs May’s ‘deal’ with the EU or ‘no deal’.
Trust in politicians to deliver a good Brexit deal is collapsing and a growing number of voters want a second referendum, according to a new poll (published two days ago). The research, commissioned by Hope Not Hate and Best for Britain, showed 64% want a fresh vote to break the parliamentary deadlock. A majority (67%) also believe the government cannot deliver a deal. Nearly 80% of Labour voters said they would back a re-run of the 2016 referendum.

So, the Labour Party comes to the rescue? Well, no… not at all. In fact, according to an interview in today’s Guardian newspaper, Mr Corbyn is determined to stay with Brexit (“even if his party won a snap general election”) and that he would “seek to go to Brussels and try to secure a better deal – if possible, in time to allow Brexit to go ahead on 29 March”.

H E L L O??

Is the Labour Party living in the real world? Does Mr Corbyn REALLY believe the EU would simply change its view and accept a different deal? When the EU says “no”, does the Labour Party have a cunning Plan B? Does the Labour Party really think the electorate is stupid (oh, I shouldn’t use that word, should I!)?

What an utter, utter farce… and we think Mr Trump is a COMPLETE joke!
Whatever your personal views on Brexit, you must surely accept that the 2016 referendum vote was based on lies, myths, fears and a whole multitude of unknown factors. Whilst there still remain huge uncertainties, there can be no doubt that we now have a far better picture of the ‘facts’ on which to cast our vote. Remember, this wasn’t like a General Election – when you could change your mind in 5 years’ time – no this was a vote on behalf of this generation and subsequent generations.

Two weeks ago, on facebook, I quoted Polly Toynbee from an article in The Guardian: “Labour would finally have to resolve its conflict between Corbyn’s small coterie and virtually everyone else, Momentum included. A fudged ‘we will renegotiate’ will fall apart in the first week of any campaign. Of course Labour should stand as remainers against Tory Brexiters. Look how Caroline Lucas mocked them in the Channel 4 debate: ‘Brexit is a project for the right, by the right and why Labour would support it I just don’t understand’. But if, lamentably, that’s a step too far, then a Labour manifesto has to promise a referendum – letting the people solve their indecision is the only way to hold the party together”.

Nothing has changed… except that things have got worse!
In the same article, Polly Toynbee went on to say: “Every day, a referendum looks more likely – it would be the only escape from this car crash. ‘Hell will freeze over before May agrees,’ an ally of hers says – but it is now the last escape hatch from this hell. The Brexiters’ own ‘project fear’ has been to terrify the nation, threatening that any attempt to run another referendum would cause rebellion, mob-rule, riots on the streets. What are they so afraid of? It’s losing, now that the polls are shifting”.

Maybe a rebellion is the only answer? Are there sufficient brave MPs in parliament who are prepared to defy their Party Whips (in the case of Tory and Labour MPs)? It would be wonderful to think that there are… but I have a horrible feeling that it’ll all end in a whimper and that we’ll all be left shaking our heads – as individual MPs battle it out seeking their own personal ‘rewards’ and as they follow their ‘leadership aspirations’ and 'party ambitions'.

Don’t talk to me about democracy.