Monday, 27 May 2019

Dissatisfaction on all sides


Subject: Dissatisfaction on all sides.
The hysterical cheering from the benches in Westminster, mainly from the opposition benches, regarding the vote which seemed to further excluded a clean brake with Europe, (which we know as Brexit) was another example of the disconnect between voters and their elected representatives. Tonight's vote was to rule out the country crashing out of Europe under WTO rules, which was an acceptable conclusion for the Brexiteers but an anathema to Remaineers.
The Brexit supporters, 17 million people who in the Referendum, voted to leave, have witnessed a substantial number of their politicians turn the tables on them and ensured that their wishes will be much more difficult to carry out. 
On Mrs Mays part she has tried to manoeuvre parliament into a position where her proposals, (which have been accepted by Europe), were effectively presented as a fait accompli, with the other options, to crash out with no deal or to withdraw the Article 50 instruction to leave and to stay in the European Union.  The conundrum is that 52% of the people signalled their wish to leave but about 50% of the politicians want to stay. The politicians are dependent on the people for their jobs and will be appealing to those same people for reelection in a couple of years time. It wouldn't surprise me to hear on the typical doorstep when the politician canvasses for their vote the rhetorical question "and how did you vote in March 2019".
The outcome for our political system which has deliberately reversed the democratically sort, 'will of the people' might have profound effects. The heartlands of Labour who voted leave will not forget their politicians deception. The Tories who see the nation made to look foolish and who hated the ever greater hold Europe had over our ability to make our own decisions, will not forget the deception.
The questions around the duplicity of Parliament and politicians from both sides in the way business is conducted will not be forgotten. 
Perhaps this is a moment for new parties to form or for the established parties to suffer such a hit, if the electorate fail to turn out at the next election, that they will be shells in so far as proper representation is concerned.
Democracy itself will be called into question, perhaps the seeds of dissidence will cluster around extremism with all the problems that that entails.
And of course we will still be in Europe more as a puppet than a decision maker. 
Mr Cameron unleashed a level of dissatisfaction we have yet to see the outcome of.

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