So Johnson has suspended Parliament. I don’t know if it’s legal or not. Surely it must be? This is Britain, after all. But it doesn’t feel right. It just doesn’t feel right.
If leaving the EU was a good idea, fully supported by people who know what they’re talking about, then they wouldn’t have to do it by means that appear to be underhand.
If leaving the EU was a good idea, Johnson would be able to walk into Parliament with his head held high, to be met with thunderous applause.
If leaving the EU was a good idea, we would be planning street parties and parades. The shops would be full of ‘Brexit’ paraphernalia. There would be excitement in the air.
None of this is happening.
I have enjoyed being European. I’ve enjoyed living without borders. I emigrated to the Republic of Ireland in 2007. Yes, we were economic migrants – we could earn more money in Ireland than we could in the UK at the time, so we did.
Anyone could, and very many people did. We lived in a melting pot of Irish, Dutch, Polish, Croatian, English, Slovenian, Scottish and German people, all working and living away from home. We were all European. What are we now?
I’m feeling sad, bereaved. It really does feel like the death of something good, and not the birth of something better.
Our rights – your rights, my rights – are being taken from under our noses. The right to free movement, the right to live and work anywhere in Europe. And for what? I’m yet to hear anyone explain in what way exactly things outside of Europe will be better than within Europe. I’ve heard a lot of ‘Let’s get on with it’, and a worrying amount of ‘You lost, get over it’, as if the referendum was some sort of football match. But nothing about the benefits.
I’m picturing the UK leaving home, like a kid that has an argument and runs away.
Later, the kid will see sense, realise that although they didn’t get everything they wanted, life at home was better than life anywhere else. But – and here’s the thing – when they go back, and knock on the door to be let in, they’ll find the door locked and everyone just getting on with their lives. And when someone finally notices them standing there, they’ll say ‘Oh, it’s you again. Bugger off’ and go back to what they were doing.
I think that kid is going to be very lonely in the big outside world.
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