Whatever has happened to the British?

Steve Lytton writes from France

Whatever has happened to the British – a people whose reputation lies in part on a solid belief in fairness and in the determination to fight for a seemingly lost cause, despite all the odds, because it is right, decent and proper? Though it sickens me to admit it – all the more so given his nauseating, abusive, gloating in Brussels following on from his disgraceful, obfuscating Leave campaign, – Farage, (alongside his “snake-oil salesman” partners and the large-scale influential onslaught by some elements of the press and the Media) has taught us something: when you fundamentally believe in something, you must battle to see it through.

I write as a democrat, someone determined to see justice done regarding the EU debate; someone who, as a Briton, though living and working abroad for almost twelve years, maintains strong links with the UK.  Most importantly, I am just one out of the over four million (and still rising) British people who have signed the on-line petition (ironically created apparently by a Brexit supporter) calling upon HM Government to implement a rule that if the remain or leave vote is less than 60% based a turnout less than 75% there should be another referendum.

What appears to have happened, and is reflected in England’s lamentable display at Euro2016, is that we appear to have sunk back to the post-imperial lack of self-confidence of the 70s in the face of the kind of dogged resistance of those whose degree of  self-belief allows them to outperform us. Leaving the superb Icelandic performance aside, we appear to have thrown in the towel with a pusillanimous acceptance of the referendum result on the spurious grounds that the British people have spoken. To quote the industrial destroyer of the day: No, No, No!  A large and not insignificant proportion of us spoke on a particular day – 23^rd June 2016. Many leavers now seemingly regret that decision and are now learning that many of  the dire predictions of the campaign are proving themselves as mostly well founded – the potential break up of the UK; potential trouble brewing in Northern Ireland; the prospect of our borders being repatriated to our shores, and with it grist to the mill of the racists and xenophobes; the savaging of our relations with our fellow Europeans and our mutual trading relations; financial instability around the world; and, most worryingly, hate-filled attacks that are bound to provoke reprisals and further instability among our diverse communities.

And all this because the regular part of the Establishment, with its disastrous policy of increasing levels of austerity, have failed to tackle the key issues of the day: un- and under-employment; access to proper housing, schooling and other services; proper health provision, including preventative treatment, and so on. The result? A profound degree of alienation among huge sections of the population countrywide who feel disenfranchised and whose sense of loss of three key factors fundamental to a good quality life – a sense of identity and of being respected, and that their own actions are meaningful and worthwhile (in other words a deep-rooted sense of belonging) – has at last been given the chance to be aired.

The truth of this is shown in the extraordinary Boaty McBoatface incident that gained some 200,000 supporters. What better, though harmless and hilarious, an illustration of debunking and showing contempt for the powers that be? It reflected the public’s mood; but this affair also displayed wise decision making on behalf of the shocked ship owners who, recognising their mistake, took cognisance of the fact that, though the “public had spoken”, they needed nevertheless, for credibility’s sake, if nothing else, to chose a much more appropriate name for a world-leading craft, while accepting the use of the name for fear of further public distain.

Has this been the response of the government or even, though it pains me to say it, others with whom I normally agree, and whose vision of the future speaks to wide audiences, especially the young, whose future world we are creating? The true answer is: No! And this is unacceptable. It is a complete abrogation of the role of government and leadership and it risks battles reminiscent of the Poll Tax period.

This clear lack of taking responsibility will not prove acceptable to the majority of the young or to those who recognise that, in a world facing all the innumerable threats ( global warming, increased terrorism, war and instability, the resulting refugee and migration crisis, increased relative and actual poverty, etc. – a world requiring co-operation and collaboration), Britain must not be allowed to cast itself adrift from Europe in the somewhat vainglorious hope that our much hyped , and dubious sense of entrepreneurialism, wisdom and experience will carve a decisive niche for ourselves in this globalised world of industrial giants.

This is why the four-million-strong petition calling for a second referendum must be actioned, allowing a clear majority to express themselves. Even consumer legislation gives people time for reasonable calm reflection, a time for people to take stock, to reconsider their decisions in the cold light of day, without the honey words of the self-interested salesman and his carefully-honed, psychologically-developed, drip-drip poisoning publicity materials.

Apparently, Tacitus wrote of the Anglo-Saxons that, in their desire to escape the invading Roman army, they would wade up to their necks into the bog. This is where we find ourselves.

People are not stupid and must not be treated as such, nor abused for what for them might appear as a rational, though gut, response to things. When upset, confused and disrespected, they tend to accept poor treatment for a while, before responding, often aggressively and in ways that prove directly contrary to their own interests.

A second referendum, as outlined above, with full-hearted support showing a clear majority is the only way to move forward. It must be discussed thoroughly in Parliament as a matter of urgency and adopted in the face of possible press and Media opposition and name-calling of “bad losers”. If the first referendum result prevails without challenge and without thorough, informed leadership it will not go unpunished. We shall all end up the losers, dramatically so!