THE NECESSITY OF COMPROMISE

We are all in rather a tizzy in the UK, split between the Blues and the Reds, the old and the young, the Leavers and the Remainers, the urban sophisticates and the steady Eddies, the rich and the poor. On many issues their stated opinions are poles apart; the job of those who care is to find an acceptable way of rubbing along together. Mature societies work by creating a consensus.

Statues in Derry celebrating Reconciliation

We all have to make compromises in life. Once well off, we adjust to a more modest life-style or, once poor, we learn how to enjoy prosperity tactfully. Different generations have quite different views in clothes, friends, music and the outside world and we should never stand in judgment. Chacun à son gout. Neighbours can be eccentric and deeply irritating, but you cannot choose your neighbours; bite your tongue – laissez faire et laissez passer. We easily express dogmatic opinions and set out ambitious targets but a moment’s reflexion will remind us that we may be going too fast (or too slowly) for others and many of our targets need the cooperation and goodwill of reluctant partners. The Great War taught us one thing; that entrenched positions lead to deadlock, stalemate and immobility.

At least in our liberal democracy few beliefs are so absolute that they cannot be shaded, spun or adjusted. We can leave Absolutism to the wilder shores of religion and ideology, both alien to our Zeitgeist. Cultural Relativism is the mode; without getting mired in philosophy, this relativism helps oil the wheels of debate and negotiation. Nothing, short of preventing national obliteration, is worth going to the stake to uphold.

All the above may sound rather pious, but in concrete terms how would a more dynamic attitude to compromise help resolve the pressing issues of the day? For a start the minority Tory government has secured a deal with the DUP to deliver a voting majority in Parliament. Yes, the government has had to inject extra cash into Northern Ireland, but it has achieved its main aim albeit at some cost in money and dignity; Ulster sensibilities have been respected, an exercise in effective compromising politics.

Besieged and defiant May

Loser Corbyn in Glastonbury triumph

The election did not provide the Tories with their expected large majority. Theresa May was too remote and failed to engage with her electorate. Corbyn surprised everyone by conducting himself sensibly and talking of social care, health issues and defence spending in a calm manner, which the electorate appreciated. He fell far short of winning but he won 29 seats from the Tories and revived Labour morale. Expect the Tories to learn a few lessons and tackle social care, health and defence with new investment and a less gung-ho manner. Financial goals in respect of deficit reduction may well have to become more elastic.

The elephant in the room is Brexit. Remainer opinion is in retreat though substantial numbers of Tories and Labour supporters favour the “soft “option of remaining in the single market. I think that is unrealistic and unachievable without jettisoning the point of Brexit. But there must be some middle ground. My own red lines would be the supremacy in the UK of our Parliament, UK laws and UK courts; control of our own defence within NATO and outside; the ability to trade freely with whom we choose and the ability to control our own borders. I do not get excited about the promised sharp reduction in net immigration (a high figure might suit us better). An EU trade treaty would be helpful, but squeezing an agreement from the EU 27 is a Herculean task and unlikely to be achievable on sensible terms. Like many I prefer a deal but a disruptive break and a retreat to WTO terms may be the only way forward, certainly much better than succumbing to the threats of an ever-centralising Brussels. Quite quickly we could enter into new arrangements with those who matter to us in Europe, notably Germany, and other big players overseas like the US, China and the modern Commonwealth.

It is true that Britain by democratic vote applied to leave the EU. This was however after the EU, in its arrogance, flatly repulsed David Cameron’s request for substantive reforms to allow the UK to stay. A concession or two at that stage would have saved Europe a heap of trouble. Let’s not forget that and let us all dream up a cornucopia of compromises to get us through the next fraught years.

SMD

26.06.17

Text Copyright © Sidney Donald 2017