Brexit: Bic Calls for Cool Heads and Due Consideration for Consequences
As members of the British Italian Conservatives we would like to offer another perspective on the shape of Brexit.
We have a European view, and a British one — and we see history repeating itself — only this time it’s on a broader scale. Here’s what we mean. Back in 1921 Ireland was divided, and at the start of a Civil war. Ireland left a union, as we are leaving a union now.
It was the end of a unified Ireland and now it’s the end of a unified EU.
Theresa May’s agreement had the potential to offer a hand-hold for us, the opportunity to hold on to some useful ties to Europe. Ties that have value and don’t interfere with the desire for independence the British people voted for.
And make no mistake, salvaging elements that have a value to us is a smart move.
Whatever your stance most would agree that not everything about the Europe experience has been bad. So, it makes sense not to destroy totally what we have had for all these years. And yet the House choses to turn away from an elegant solution that offered a better way than simply slamming the door behind us.
So here we are. The elegant solution is a ‘no’ and there’s nothing offered up in its place. This is party political point-scoring with the British people and the economy left to face the consequences. ‘I told you so’ and ‘not invented here’ have no place in this decision process.
It’s time for us to ask ourselves — why are these people still in Westminster? These are our elected leaders, these are the strategists, the decision-makers, the policy makers. The stakes have never been higher, so what’s going wrong — should we simply make a clean cut with those who can’t or won’t make a decision and move on?
Europe itself is rupturing. Nations are leaving, it’s facing dissolution. Bringing Europe to its knees is not something that sits well with us, we remember why it was formed — in the aftermath of WWII when warring neighbours had to find a way to live with, work with and respect each other.
Trying to hijack an agreement is high risk and fundamentally stupid.
As Italians in Britain, yes, we wanted us to remain in the EU. Our politicians should be the voices of the people, but it seems the thrill of the chase has overtaken why we are all where we are and what we still need to achieve. This is not the stage for big egos and brutal stubbornness. Yet that’s where we are. We are deconstructing 40 years of a way of doing things. We have a society to rebuild and we need to invest time, intelligent focus and some common sense for the greater good.
And the future for a smaller Europe will have a big impact within the world. It will become a group of small states. In its diminished form it will not be able to tackle the major changes that the world is facing. Big issues have to be tackled by everyone. Piecemeal attempts to chip away at problems in isolation will achieve nothing.
We were part of a large democracy, one that embraced culture, commanded respect and wielded power. In the UK we have been frightened by immigrants and the elements of European governance that were troublesome or uncomfortable. But a little discomfort was a small price to pay for the bigger prize. Once tolerance leaves it will leave the door open for civil war in Europe.
Our hope is that our politicians won’t leave it too late to start to think about this and give their full support to Theresa May’s deal. The ripples of the decisions we take — or don’t — now will swing the balance. Present a united and invested front, now, or go home to be judged by the public.
