I
wonder how many others shared my depression when seeing the behaviour
of Parliament last night? It was most unedifying on all sides and has
sunk into a nasty slanging match that has exposed some of the true
colours of the leaders and their supporters. I am afraid that far from
healing divisions, you have deepened them, especially by using intemperate descriptions such as 'traitors'. Clearly, the 'will
of the people is to create a society in which the once 52% rule the once
48% with a rod of iron - rooting out 'collaborators' and 'traitors'. I
wonder where we have seen similar approaches? Putin's Russia? Vichy
France? Syria? or perhaps Hitler's Germany?
The behaviour in Parliament yesterday showcased the worst of our Parliamentary democracy. It is nothing more than a public school slanging match where each tries to outdo the other in words of disdain. I know that Brexiteers will argue that there have been equally intemperate language from the opposition, such as accusations of racism and I don't doubt there is a case to be answered.
But, let us look at the different factions: those who favour Brexit are the 'Brexiteers' - a play on those wonderful and chivalrous 'Muskiteers' - hardly a derogatory term. Compare that the the term 'Remoaners' used by the Brexiteers. That started the problem because the Brexit debate rapidly descended into the use of derogatory language. I dare say there was an element of inflation of issues on both sides, but I certainly felt from day one that the Brexit camp was taking a bully-boy attitude by dismissing any argument as 'project fear'. So, if you are a reasonable, thoughtful individual with genuine concerns, some possible borne of specialist knowledge, you are simply wrong; but with no debate - you are simply wrong and should shut up! When you get perfectly reasonable concerns by respected medical professional howled down by the likes of Mr Rees-Mogg you know where the country is heading!
I remember a time in Natural England where the CEO openly described the technical specialists in Peterborough as 'a nest of vipers'. That spelt the end for the organisation in many ways; it has parallels with today's Britain. When you refuse to engage and listen to people with technical knowledge you are effectively opening yourself to danger on all fronts. It is like the platoon commander threatening his point men with the firing squad if they dare to warn of an ambush up ahead! The result in NE was that a lot of the technical specialists left or took early retirement as soon as possible. That denuded the organisation of its corporate memory and the respect that had taken 20 years to build.
In the case of the UK today, all I can see is increasing evidence that we are just like the nasty element of our football supporters - thugs with no respect or manners. Why on earth would Europe want to keep us in the club, and why on earth should they trust us again? Is that the image we want to present to the World? Once we were respected for our manners, but now we will be seen as we really are: boorish thugs that think we should still be masters of the World, but are actually a tiny little island that in the course of time will become a minor irrelevance!
So, please Mr Johnson, it is time to reflect on your effect on those of us who don't share your views or who would go along with Brexit if it involved an orderly process. I would prefer that we did not leave but now think we have no choice: we have so inflamed the relationship with Europe that it is in everybdy's best interests that we go. But, please reflect that being against no-deal Brexit is not being against Brexit, it is saying that we don't want to return to bombs and bullets in Northern Ireland and back in London. We don't want to see our aerospace industry, car industry and manufacturing base desert us. We do want to see an orderly and friendly departure in which we pay our debts, respect the institutions and customs arrangements of our neighbours and understand that once we have left the club we not only rid ourselves of those elements we don't like but we also lose those elements that we do like. If that is regarded as treachory then clearly it is time for the 48% to leave the country. If only we could!
In the light of this, I think one election pledge of the Brexiteers ought to be that they will negotiate safe passage for the traitors and collaborators plus the electorate that has any sympathy for their views. Those of us who don't have the option of an Irish or European passport are stuck in the same way as the Jews were in Nazi Germany.
The behaviour in Parliament yesterday showcased the worst of our Parliamentary democracy. It is nothing more than a public school slanging match where each tries to outdo the other in words of disdain. I know that Brexiteers will argue that there have been equally intemperate language from the opposition, such as accusations of racism and I don't doubt there is a case to be answered.
But, let us look at the different factions: those who favour Brexit are the 'Brexiteers' - a play on those wonderful and chivalrous 'Muskiteers' - hardly a derogatory term. Compare that the the term 'Remoaners' used by the Brexiteers. That started the problem because the Brexit debate rapidly descended into the use of derogatory language. I dare say there was an element of inflation of issues on both sides, but I certainly felt from day one that the Brexit camp was taking a bully-boy attitude by dismissing any argument as 'project fear'. So, if you are a reasonable, thoughtful individual with genuine concerns, some possible borne of specialist knowledge, you are simply wrong; but with no debate - you are simply wrong and should shut up! When you get perfectly reasonable concerns by respected medical professional howled down by the likes of Mr Rees-Mogg you know where the country is heading!
I remember a time in Natural England where the CEO openly described the technical specialists in Peterborough as 'a nest of vipers'. That spelt the end for the organisation in many ways; it has parallels with today's Britain. When you refuse to engage and listen to people with technical knowledge you are effectively opening yourself to danger on all fronts. It is like the platoon commander threatening his point men with the firing squad if they dare to warn of an ambush up ahead! The result in NE was that a lot of the technical specialists left or took early retirement as soon as possible. That denuded the organisation of its corporate memory and the respect that had taken 20 years to build.
In the case of the UK today, all I can see is increasing evidence that we are just like the nasty element of our football supporters - thugs with no respect or manners. Why on earth would Europe want to keep us in the club, and why on earth should they trust us again? Is that the image we want to present to the World? Once we were respected for our manners, but now we will be seen as we really are: boorish thugs that think we should still be masters of the World, but are actually a tiny little island that in the course of time will become a minor irrelevance!
So, please Mr Johnson, it is time to reflect on your effect on those of us who don't share your views or who would go along with Brexit if it involved an orderly process. I would prefer that we did not leave but now think we have no choice: we have so inflamed the relationship with Europe that it is in everybdy's best interests that we go. But, please reflect that being against no-deal Brexit is not being against Brexit, it is saying that we don't want to return to bombs and bullets in Northern Ireland and back in London. We don't want to see our aerospace industry, car industry and manufacturing base desert us. We do want to see an orderly and friendly departure in which we pay our debts, respect the institutions and customs arrangements of our neighbours and understand that once we have left the club we not only rid ourselves of those elements we don't like but we also lose those elements that we do like. If that is regarded as treachory then clearly it is time for the 48% to leave the country. If only we could!
In the light of this, I think one election pledge of the Brexiteers ought to be that they will negotiate safe passage for the traitors and collaborators plus the electorate that has any sympathy for their views. Those of us who don't have the option of an Irish or European passport are stuck in the same way as the Jews were in Nazi Germany.
