Today is, or should be, Brexit Day, the moment we leave the European Union as that plurality voted for. As the government itself actually announced two years ago. So, are we leaving? Are we ‘eck. The entire political class is consumed with pimple picking in the mirror as they await their call to twirl upon the stage and nothing more.
So, where is that competent government?
This being a useful lesson for those who would have more government of course. Those who would nationalise rail, or determine the diet of the nation, use politics to usher in some golden age of social justice perhaps. Politics actually runs to enable those twirls, that pimple picking. Any ability to do something is purely coincidental.
Which, even if we’ve not got our Brexit yet is a useful thing to remind ourselves of. Politics and politicians aren’t a good way of doing something. Seriously, we asked them to leave a note out for the Brussels milkman, nothing today please, and they’ve not even managed to get that right.
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Thought the legal position was that, absent a further act of Parliament, we leave today with no deal. Works for me and I shall be celebrating later....
There is a clause in the Act allowing for an extension which could be exercised by Government placing a Statutory Instrument before Parliament which it did. It needed no vote.
One can only hope the EU will refuse to extend again. They have convinced themselves that they won't talk trade after a WTO deal until the money is paid and the rights of EU citizens guaranteed and so on. They really don't make sense, it is they who will lose most from a loss of trade, if indeed there is any change at all.
I don't see what the next option is for the govt if she loses. Another extension? For what?
It makes perfect sense if you're inside the Commission. You have no incentive not to damage ordinary members of the EU populace - what are they going to do about it, vote you out? - but a very strong incentive to maximise your power base, and that means making it as painful as possible to leave the 'club'.