Note that this is The Guardian itself misunderstanding. John Harris can often enough grasp the wrong end of that stick but his piece is, while wrong, in my view at least defensible. The headline though, as things work that’s provided by The Guardian, not the journo under it.
Brexit is a class betrayal. So why is Labour colluding in it?
John Harris
The Tory leave elite is dragging the country towards a disaster that the opposition could still avert by calling for a people’s vote
Brexit never was an elite preoccupation. I know, I was a press officer for Ukip for a time. That time being back when those who even thought about leaving the EU were the fruitcakes and loonies. The best we’d ever get was a minute of two of polite attention before the establishment had to run from the room to hide their screams of laughter.
Having said that of course I’ve betrayed my prejudices on the matter. But the establishment was for the EU as it largely is now. The we’re not so sure this is a good idea folks right through to my own position of out with this damned spot crowd were not the privileged nor even the Tories. And any analysis which starts from the idea that they or we were is going to be entirely wrong.
Brexit is actually a grand national upchuck against the elites, the establishment. That, of course, is why it’s engendering so much rage among the Will Huttons of this world. Why stuggle to so hard up from the bottom to join that policy making elite if the people are then going to ignore you?
Which does rather mean that a Peoples’ Vote isn’t going to be the deus ex machina which reverse Brexit. Simply because it was the peoples’ vote which is taking us out in the first place.
“Brexit is actually a grand national upchuck against the elites, the establishment”
Bollocks. It’s not even that significant. We couldn’t have a meaningful referendum without first debating all the stuff they’re currently pretending to negotiate about.
What we actually had was a popularity contest between Nigel Farage and the EU to see who could get the most ‘likes’, and unsurprisingly that split the country pretty evenly because no-one feels affection for either of them.
One thing the referendum result certainly didn’t mean is anything about whether we should leave the EU or stay in it.
“One thing the referendum result certainly didn’t mean is anything about whether we should leave the EU or stay in it.”
Apart from the fucking question on the ballot paper, tosspot.
But the people voted ‘Leave’ because they were too stupid to read, or so all the Remoaner commentators have assured us. BTW the word ‘people’ in “People’s Vote” is doing much the same work as it is in “Democratic People’s Republic”.
The question on the ballot paper was utterly meaningless. It was a reality show style Farage v the EU popularity contest as far as everyone was concerned.
And yes, I did say this repeatedly before the referendum, so it’s not like my view is coloured by the outcome.
The whole thing is an absolute farce, and you’re all very naive. The politicos are taking the piss as usual. It wasn’t a real referendum, it was a sop to people gullible enough to believe in it.
“…you’re all very naive.”
The unmistakable voice of the Guardianista.
You’re an idiot. I couldn’t be any further from a fan of that hypocritical nonsense.
“You’re an idiot.”
There you go again.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias
You contradict yourself, but can’t have noticed.
If Brexit was an elite concern the Guardian would be in favour. Their pretence of interest in ordinary people is ridiculous.