The Biggest Mistake of the 21st Century

I have now moved beyond the shock of the Brexit result into anger, although an uneasy, slightly nauseous, feeling remains.

I'm angry at the Tory right and at Cameron for giving in to them, for allowing a referendum and creating a situation which will lead not only to withdrawal from the EU but also to the breakup of the UK. He will be remembered as the politician who made one of the biggest mistakes of the last 100 years, alongside Neville Chamberlain and Anthony Eden!

I'm also angry with Corbyn, with his virtual absence from the campaign until the last few days and his lukewarm 7 out of 10 endorsement of the EU. He may be honest but he's no leader. With his half-hearted campaign he has betrayed his own electorate by paving the way for the most right wing government since the eighties. The economic reaction to the uncertainty, reduction in investment, a drift away from the “UK” by businesses, lower activity generally and higher unemployment, will all result in a recession and lower tax receipts followed inevitably by further austerity measures and public spending cuts by a government that will relish this opportunity to impose their dogma. All of this will impact on the poorest and the lower paid. With half his shadow cabinet about to resign Corbyn's on his way out, but too late!

Apart from Nigel Farage the Leave campaign team didn’t seem to be relishing their victory.  It’s much easier to win a battle than to take responsibility for rebuilding from the rubble, but if Farage has his way the destruction will continue, because he will try to unpick the last forty years of EU inspired legislation whether good or bad.

I hope that you’ve read my previous blog about Boris Johnson’s lying and dissembling. With his turbulent personal history and, as a proven liar, he should not even dream of putting himself forward for Prime Minister. He’s just totally unsuitable for high office and he won’t be able to joke his way out of the embarrassing interviews and press articles that will come later. I'm waiting for an "anyone but Boris" petition to sign. I've already signed a petition calling for independence for London (where I used to live) and another petition calling for a second EU referendum.

The UK will be blamed for every EU crisis that arises. I don't accept the proposition, that the EU will get on with reform in our absence and that Britain will be the sacrificial lamb that enabled it to happen. France and Germany are already talking about closer integration with more harmonization of tax and social protection. They just don't get it, and without us they will have nobody shouting in their ears that this is not what the people of Europe want! We stood a better chance of reforming the EU from within. Our sacrifice is needless and will achieve nothing positive.

The country has never been so divided; between young and old; rich and poor; between England and Scotland; and between England and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is almost certain to fragment into “Little England” and Scotland as separate nations and who knows what Northern Ireland and Wales will do?

With almost all important world leaders, apart from Putin, and also those responsible for financial institutions like the IMF and the World Bank, telling us we should remain in the EU, a large proportion of English voters put up two fingers in a protest vote ultimately against their own best interests. Most were voting about immigration concerns whipped up by the right wing and foreign owned tabloid press.  One of our acquaintances gave as a reason for voting Brexit that "he didn't like the way they looked at our women". Since he wouldn't be able to tell an eastern European from an Englishman by looking at him, I can only assume that he was referring to the many Asians from his home town, none of whom would be removed by Brexit. 

As well as being worried about the possible effect on my pension funds and investments, I have the certainty that a lower pound will reduce our pension income, which is converted directly into Euros. There is also the likelihood that our State pensions will be frozen and not increased annually because this rule was applied only to UK expats living in the EU and certain other countries with which bilateral agreements have been established. 

I voted remain and I hope that all those who voted for leave will enjoy seeing their wealth and their employment opportunities diminish.