What politically turbulent times we live in!
A “quick” recap.
May 2015 – David Cameron wins an overall majority. The first Tory win since 1992. Who can forget the trouble John Major had with the Eurosceptics. Well, ‘call me Dave’ had a cunning rouse to avoid the same fate…
June 2016: you could knock me over with a feather duster, a majority of those who voted -17.4 million people – in the referendum said Leave. That was 26% of the population, 1.3 million more than those who voted to Remain. Although that is quite a lead, 12.9 million of those who could vote did not. All this ignores the c.3 million Europeans who live in the UK and, of course, the young.
LSE reported that immediately after the referendum, there was a marked ‘shock’ reaction in the polls against the Leave vote. Some Leave voters had voiced the opinion that they had only voted Leave to give the government a good kicking and they wished they had the opportunity to change their vote. That was reflected in the early polls with the reversal of the Brexit referendum result into double percentage figures. A higher percentage of Leave voters changed their mind to Remain, whilst the Remain voters generally stood firm. IPSOS said those that did not vote were 2:1 in favour of remaining, as were 75% of 16-18 year olds and even more of the EU nationals (well, turkeys don’t vote for Christmas, often).
We, as a country, immediately became polarised. A polarisation that has tried to set the narrative of People vs Parliament, Elites vs People or Business vs People. Both sides have played dirty and fast and loose with our constitution. Business has suffered as has the UK’s international standing and this says nothing about the uneasy truce between me and some of my friends.
June 2017: Mrs May, who had decided she had too small a majority to deliver Brexit, put faith in the opinion polls and called an election. The mission – secure a juicy majority and push Brexit through. Even Tusk quietly egged her on – I mean look at Corbyn, pushing at an open door or what? Well, she failed to dazzle and wow. Jezza Corbyn bribed the students and, hey presto, we had another minority government.
The main parties were divided, the population divided, families divided and Parliament could not agree on a single Brexit solution, even after Bercow had handed the order papers over to the members.
Summer 2019: Mrs May throws in the towel – and who could blame her. After a short skirmish, Alexander the Great, aka Boris, finally gets the position he has always sought. He even promised to die in a ditch to secure it.
Again, a divided Parliament stymies the PM after he stymies Parliament. He ends up firing more than 20 of his MPs, alienates his DUP support and breaks a promise not to agree to a sea border with Norther Ireland. He gets a deal but there is no time to pass it. So here we are – awaiting the first December election since 1923 (the second of three in two years at that time).
For Boris, an election must be better than a ditch-bound death. For the rest of us; here we go again. Hopefully, this time we can have some clarity, BUT who knows how the next 44 days will go if recent history is anything to go by. It could be tumultuous. South West Surrey to the Liberals? In the meantime, lets try and crack on with business which, whilst frustrated, has carried on regardless.
Sorry Brenda from Bristol. It’s another one.
For Boris an election must be better than a ditch bound death.
For the rest of us here we go again!
