British Politics is Degraded and Divisive

“Trump’s visit saw him declare Britain to be in chaos (it is), that the current Brexit wasn’t what people voted for (it isn’t, and never would be), and that Boris Johnson would make a great prime minister.”

British politics is in a state of degradation not seen for decades, with both main political parties divided among themselves, engaging in solipsistic infighting while the country burns. Brexit, always a challenge, is being bungled, while other areas of policy suffer from lack of attention. Whatever happens, Britain will suffer financially and politically from Brexit. Meanwhile, America is not a guaranteed ally. President Trump visited Britain from July 12th to 13th. As usual, the president surfed in on a wave of controversy, describing Britain at the NATO summit (itself a tumultuous affair) as a country in turmoil and the Brexit deal agreed the week before as not what people voted for. The chaos Trump brought to the realm of international diplomacy and politics is reflected in the Brexit negotiations, as well as the wider discourse over Trump’s visit and the on-going fall-out of the Brexit referendum.

First, Brexit. The vote to leave the EU on June 23, 2016, has brought little clarity for the general public and even less for those who represent them in parliament. Most MPs voted to remain in the EU, and this was true for the Conservatives, who have seen their party split by Europe for over 25 years. As Daniel Hannan, arch-Brexiteer, said in an interview with Peter Robinson of Uncommon Knowledge, it is like Britain has been stuck in the day after the vote, unable to move on, unable to agree what the vote meant, unable to agree in some quarters whether it was even legitimate. Many prominent Leavers have promised trade, financial, immigration and sovereignty utopia outside the EU, which is obviously unachievable to the extent they argue it to be and is based on self-aggrandizing intellectual dishonesty.

Some Remainers meanwhile have engaged in “Project-Fear” doom-mongering that varies wildly in believability, while adopting an attitude dripping with condescension towards the Leave voters, treating them all as the thick, overweight, undereducated and racist lumpenproletariat who should really leave everything to the technocrats to run because they know best. Leavers didn’t know what they’re voting for, after all. As the narrative goes, they are just ‘low information voters,’ who still think Britain has an empire. Sometimes, the way some in the Remain commentariat have spoken to or about Leave voters reminds me of those who used to talk to me like I was mentally deficient because I have a physical disability.