Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
Can't talk about Brexit without it being someone's gibberish.
The Brexit referendum, like all UK referendums (referenda) was advisory - there is no obligation to implement any referendum - though granted, politically it would be difficult not to. Brexit suffered from lack of definition though.
Exit from Europe was defined almost entirely around Parliamentary Sovereignty*. I don't have any issue with those who wanted the UK to 'Exit' from the UK's Political Union with the EU - for a given value of valid, it had it's arguments.
However, there are many ways a Nation can be affilliated with the EU, and the UK decided that Brexit would mean exiting every single one. I'd suggest that part was not explained adequately to the electorate, and for many years to come the UK must abide by its consequences - black bananas and all.
Now a potted history lesson: After WW2, the UK was pressed by the USA to join, and take a lead and be its 'Man on the inside steering' in the fledgling EU : the ECSC. However, the UK said 'F**k that for a game of soldiers, we'll trade with our Commonwealth instead'.
The USA, exasperated, then turned to Germany as its lead partner in the EU - where its interest remains.
Trading with the Commonwealth instead, didn't work out very well for the UK at all; so after lagging behind Europe for over a decade, the UK ended up in the EC anyway because it had to - because Trade.
The fact that the EU had demilitarised and invested its Marshall Plan dosh into infrastructure and rebuilding, while the UK decided the opposite - and had to beg a couple of extra loans from the US after spunking the free dosh up a tree - did not help.
'We were the only ones to repay our debt!' was also bollox, because nobody was told we were the only ones who had the debt in the form of massive loans from the USA.
Interestingly, Germany repaid its Marshall Plan Grant despite not being under any obligation to do so, as it wasn't a loan. Germany's 'Mittelstand' model is still underpinned by Marshall Plan invested dosh to this day.
The demilitarisation of the EU still reverberates, as the USA is exasperated that it can't get members to consistently spunk GDP on its military industrial complex, like the UK has seldom ceased doing. To that, the EU members have always said 'F**k that for a game of soldiers - look where that got the UK'.
FFWD to Brexit and the UK Government did actually say frequently - 'Bollox to the EU, we'll trade with the Commonwealth instead'. That would be a Commonwealth much reduced in scope and British influence since the '50's. and the last failed attempt.
Business knows that it cannot stand alone, or competition will eat its lunch. Every business is a member of some domestic trade federation, or buying group, or it is not a business for very long.
You pay your dues, and you abide by the rules, and you have a voice at the table. The EU has a few trade structures available to everyone and their dog, which does not require membership of the EU and 'Loss of Sovereignty'. Loss of some autonomy certainly, in the same as way being a SMB member of a trade federation.
The UK was already a member of such federations, but decided it could better negotiate new trade deals from outside, rather than inside, and y'known, there's always the Commonwealth.
"Brexit will be great" and "Aye, Do ye think I came up the Clyde on a banana boat?" is a droll juxtaposition and apt summary.
*Since 'Factortame' the Sovereignty of Parliament has been moot anyway - and that's all the tongue twisting gibberish I have today.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
