FORGIVE AND BUILD ANEW

The United Kingdom has been far from united over the last 3 years. The Referendum and the Brexit debates in Parliament have created deep divisions in our society; families have been split, generations have been estranged and friendships endangered. The substantial Conservative victory in the December 2019 general election has cleared the way politically and the new Parliament will vote for withdrawal from the EU by 31 January 2020. This will end the Brexit controversy and set the stage for a new Britain - an important element in this is rebuilding damaged relationships at home.

The Palace of Westminster

As an avid Leaver and Brexiteer, I acknowledge that it is easier for me and my kind to extend the hand of reconciliation as we have ultimately prevailed and are now tasting victory. Our quest for sovereignty, for institutional and economic freedom, and for delivering the expressed will of the people has been met, although important bargaining on the precise form of continued trade with the EU lies before us. A contrary bitter taste remains in the mouths of the Remainers which will take many months to erase. I have heard eloquent regrets of the damage done to the City in capital terms by the flight to the EU of important parts of overseas banks previously based in London; similarly, many friends have been upset by the weakening of links with a Europe they cherish. For sure Britain will not be unscathed by Brexit but I am sure the positives will outweigh the negatives and a worthy cause for all Britons is to work together to deliver those benefits and minimize those costs.

Our mutual forgiveness should embrace all statements made or arguments deployed which ignored or overstated the factual evidence. Such delinquencies are common-place in the heat of controversy. Insults were traded, which will be regretted on reflection, and Project Fear saw both sides distort statistics – we will soon see who was the greater sinner – but that chapter is closed and we can move on. Candidly, the milk of human kindness flows only so far and we are well rid of Jeremy Corbyn and his coterie, soon enough to be consigned to the dustbin of history. Few regret the disappearance of Speaker Bercow, whose bias debased his office and who, thank heaven, receives no honour at the New Year. Privileged undemocratic figures like MP Dominic Grieve and Lady Hale of the obstructionist Supreme Court are off the stage while blessed retirement has embraced over-rated Ken Clarke. I would welcome a substantial official honour for Nigel Farage, a doughty champion of Brexit, whose decisions have much helped Boris, but he may have to wait.

To protect our well-established two-party system, Labour needs much more moderate leadership to attract voters. These moderates exist and will have to climb out of their silent bunker; a re-alignment on the Left to include the LibDems and Greens is always possible. The Fixed Term Parliament Act needs to be reconsidered as it can, we know, immobilise government. The simple machinery of government has to be oiled – at least we now have a sensible Speaker in Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and the 2013 boundary changes, shamefully shelved by the Coalition in deference to the LibDems, should be enacted, reducing seats from 650 to 600 and evening out constituency sizes.

The Conservative government will have to deliver on its promises to fully fund the NHS, the social care system and to break the circle of deprivation which clouds the lives and prospects of the disadvantaged. It is a huge, but urgent challenge. A focus on the neglected parts of our country is sure to discover real local talent; revive their spirit and large areas can benefit. Longer term educational standards at schools and universities can be made more relevant and more useful to the demands of our modern world.

The future of the Union itself is being put to the test. Northern Ireland’s devolved constitution is not working with no Assembly at Stormont. The Orange and Green sects cannot agree on cooperation, with the UK’s many enemies in the Republic trying to wreak havoc while the UK is preoccupied with the EU. Brussels itself has fomented disunity in Ireland to bolster its cause. Post-Brexit the UK will want to ease border trade tensions, try to reconcile the factions and get government working again, not budging on the Unionist principle. The DUP will have to do more than proclaim a flat “No surrender” but also reach out to Catholic Ireland.

A more deadly threat to the Union comes from the SNP. Well established in Scottish government for 10 years, the SNP is obsessed with the goal of seceding from the Union. The SNP has failed to explain how its huge fiscal deficit can be bridged in an independence scenario, what its currency plans are and what it has to do to re-enter the EU. Tactfully Boris will have to steer Scottish opinion back to reality. I do not believe a majority exists for Scottish independence but nationalism is a powerful ideology and the UK government will need all its wit and determination to mobilise unionism and win this vital battle.

So, the nation faces many challenges, yet the proud spirit in this land is optimistic. We have entered times of great opportunity and we commend this great moment by selectively borrowing the positive inspirations of Ecclesiastes 3;

To everything there is a season:

A Time to be born, A Time to plant

A Time to heal, A Time to build up

A Time to laugh, A Time to dance

A Time to embrace, A Time to gain

A Time to keep, A Time to speak

A Time to love, and A Time of Peace.

SMD

29.12.19

Text Copyright © Sidney Donald 2019