When I talk to voters locally, they typically agree on two things: first, the process of Brexit has been catastrophically badly managed by Theresa May; and, second, they’re fed-up with Brexit and just “want it to be over”, so they can get on with their lives.
Some Leave voters mention, “We should have left on 24 June 16 and not paid a penny to the EU”. In contrast, some Remainers mention, “The whole Brexit process has been a nightmare. If there’s any deal on the table, let’s seize it and move on, regardless of the long-term consequences.”
Either way, it’s absolutely clear most voters simply want Brexit to end.
Unfortunately, this cannot happen if the UK persists in leaving the EU, as this involves: (a) renegotiating 127 trade-related agreements and over 750 other international agreements from which we currently benefit from by virtue of EU membership, together with: (b) concurrently attempting to negotiate brand new trade agreements with the EU, the US, China and India and security agreements with the EU. These negotiations will occupy the attention of Parliament for at least another ten years, when it should be addressing today’s pressing problems, like housing, healthcare, social care, education, policing, local authority services, increasing poverty and homelessness, the North-South divide, etc, etc.
Today, the Conservative Party cannot, even amongst itself, agree what Brexit should look like. Meanwhile, the Labour Party is similarly divided (with Corbyn and his advisers keen to Leave the EU, while his party members overwhelmingly wish to Remain in the EU).
Fortunately, there is a constructive way forward, based on the concept of ‘informed consent’. Every NHS patient will be familiar with the concept of “informed consent”, where a doctor recommends a treatment, explains its potential benefits and risks, and seeks your “informed consent”. This is exactly how we now should consider Brexit.
Back in 2016, Leave campaigners lied about the benefits of Brexit, breached election rules and were aided by online Russian interference. However, Parliament honoured the 2016 Referendum vote, and Theresa May has spent over two years negotiating an exit deal with the EU. Yes, her resulting deal is “a turd”, as Boris Johnson described it, with no net benefits. But it’s the only deal on the table, given Theresa May’s “red lines”.
All we need to do now is check (by means of a Final Say referendum) whether or not voters wish to give their “informed consent” to Theresa May’s deal.
Alan Meekings
via email
