BREXIT:THE EARTHQUAKE

Long a supporter of Brexit and with a gut-instinct that we would win, I nonetheless switched on the TV to watch the Referendum results on Thursday night with a heavy heart. The momentum of the Leave campaign seemed to be faltering, following the cruel murder of Jo Cox, the activist Labour MP, despite lively performances by Boris and Gisela in the final TV panel confrontations. The polls, which I did not want to believe, showed Remain ahead by 4-10%. Even Nigel Farage thought Remain had “edged it” and Boris had supposedly admitted defeat.

At first results favoured Remain, although Newcastle, the first urban area to report, voted Remain by only a surprisingly slim margin. Not long afterwards Sunderland voted overwhelmingly for Leave to great excitement and the die was cast.

The ordinary people of Sunderland celebrate Leave

By Friday morning the flood of Leave votes in the North, the Midlands, the South Coast, the West Country and Wales well surpassed the Remain camp in London, affluent parts of Southern England  contrarian Scotland and divided Northern Ireland.. The split was 52-48%, news received incredulously by a stunned Establishment, a wrong-footed Brussels and a bemused world.

The Leavers were well led by charismatic Boris Johnson, reflective Michael Gove and populist Nigel Farage even if some of their claims were fanciful. At least their campaign was suffused with hope and optimism. The Remainers were led by likeable Prime Minister David Cameron, always articulate and well-briefed, and by George Osborne whose dire warnings of economic catastrophe depressed us all and seemed exaggerated. Hundreds of businessmen, bankers and celebrities rallied to the Remain cause but many of their arguments sounded self-serving. Noises off from President Obama, Angela Merkel and Jean-Claude Juncker irritated rather than convinced. The Labour Party were hopeless allies, tepidly led by Jeremy Corbyn, as it completely failed to deliver the Remain votes required in its traditional strongholds in the North, Midlands and Wales.

The political cost was tumultuous and immediate. David Cameron had lost authority and had little appetite for the long battle with the EU ahead. Inevitably he announced he would resign as soon as a new Tory leader and Prime Minister was elected not later than October. This was a sad exit as Cameron had conducted himself with dignity and energy but had fatally misjudged the public mood.

David Cameron resigns supported by Samantha

To nobody’s surprise Jeremy Corbyn faces a Labour leadership challenge for his feeble performance. Ever keen on the headlines, Nicola Sturgeon SNP leader and Scotland’s First Minister, talked of a second Independence Referendum for Scotland (sure to fail in today’s economic climate) and grandly talked about opening discussions with the EU (she has no status and it is fantasy). Sinn Fein absurdly called for an Irish Unity referendum, (certain to inflame Ulster’s many Unionists). Gratuitous insults about the UK and threats about the future emanated from Juncker, totally oblivious to the fact that had the EU been less intransigent when Cameron embarked upon his “renegotiation”, Remain might easily have won. Europe has shot itself in both feet and Juncker, Schaeuble, Hollande and Merkel carry that particularly heavy can. Yet recriminations are pointless.

The people have spoken and their instruction must be acted upon. The alarmed and unhappy Remain minority must be reassured and given confidence to play their vital part in the country’s resurgent future. Our new leadership will concentrate on national reconciliation, something the British will readily embrace, and negotiate a sensible exit from the EU.

I believe we have hauled ourselves out of a swamp and saved our national identity forever. This gives me great joy and Britons of all generations will in time give thanks for the momentous decision taken on 23 June 2016.

SMD

26.06.16

Text Copyright © Sidney Donald 2016