CRY FOR BRITAIN

What a disaster the European Referendum was. David Cameron was sure the vote would be to stay. A huge miscalculation on his part which led to his immediate resignation and departure from politics altogether. There were plenty of good reasons for a 'no' vote, and those that did vote no felt that they had gained nothing by being in the EU. In fact, they had lost a great deal. Industries like the British fishing fleet was decimated due to Common Market rules. Then there was the gradual change in the union which had started out being a purely economic trading community called the Common Market when Britain joined, to more of a political union. As a trading union it had promised riches for everyone. That didn't happen, for two reasons. The first was that the Europeans and mainly the French and the Germans had another agenda. They wanted a politically united Europe, something the British never did and would never have voted for. The second and probably the most important, British politicians never really pulled their weight in Europe. Politicians of both main parties have always been split on Europe and continue to be so to this day. Had British politicians forced their way into the centre of the European politics and administration instead of always skirting round the periphery, Britain could have done a lot better for the industries and fisheries mainly based in the north of England. They may also have been better able to argue against the gradual politicisation of the union.

London centric political thought concentrated on what London and the the south of England had to offer (mainly services) and they have done very well out of Europe, unsurprisingly. In the referendum these people voted overwhelmingly to stay in Europe and now have to cope with the negative result. After 43 years of being tied to Europe and blindly following the unelected Commission's diktat, trying to quit in a couple of years and untangle the Gordian knot that has held us to everything European is beyond the capabilities of any of the current politicians in Parliament. This is the biggest and most complex situation Britain has faced since the Second World War and a time when she needs strong and charismatic leadership, and sadly there ain't none. The British political classes have dumbed themselves down over the past 30 years or so and there isn't a real and charismatic leader amongst them.

Look at the main Brexiteers, they are all rich men and women, multi millionaires some of them. What do they know of working people? Have any of them ever mixed with factory workers or drunk in the local pubs? If they get their way and Britain leaves with no deal they will be alright thank you. None of them will suffer a lost job or a dole queue and the extremist are pushing for just that sort of exit. It's a disgrace and it's no surprise that the polls show that politicians are now held in lower esteem than estate agents. One wonders who would get into power if voting was made compulsory. At the moment, if an election was called, it is probable that less than 60% of the population would vote and the result still probably 50/50 as the country is split down the middle.

I keep hearing the hard line Brexiteers stating that we should just cop out with no deal and follow WTO rules – easy! There is nothing easy about it. Imagine the disruption to trade. How many people would lose their jobs? It's guaranteed none of the politicians would unless there was a general election then some of the old soaks might. However, there is no one in the wings with the strength of personality to take the rains of this most difficult of all tasks.