Yesterday saw two moments, well one moment and an hour, that has resulted in me as yet not being able to leave the ‘democratic’ Brexit vote alone.
The moment, the perfect outcome for the arrogance of Zac Goldsmith, was his dramatic and emphatic loss in the by-election he created by stamping his feet and sulking about the extension of Heathrow Airport.
Except that the election was high-jacked by candidates who wanted to put Brexit front and centre. And was won by a candidate who has only been in the Liberal Party for 18 months, on an anti-Brexit platform.
The other Brexit moments were on Question Time last night. Held in Wakefield, which voted overwhelmingly – allegedly – to leave the EU, whilst having an extremely small immigrant community, it saw the continual regurgitation of the sound bites used all the way through the referendum campaign.
There seemed to be two main complaints from the Leavers in the audience, and Richard Tice, some sort of business ‘thing’ and co-leader of one of the Leave campaigns.
The first was – to paraphrase – Why is it taking so long? The second – to paraphrase – was Stop calling us stupid for voting to leave.
Unfortunately, if you are going to complain about the second, then maybe you should stop asking the first. Because complaining that it is all taking too long does demonstrate a significant lack of awareness of exactly what is involved.
As to the second complaint, I don’t necessarily think you are stupid, or ignorant, or even intentionally racist.
However, it makes it difficult to see what your real arguments are when all that you produce are the same sound bite baseless statements that were thrown around with abandon during the campaigns.
And that includes dismissing Remoaners – another pointless denigration – as a bunch of over-educated, intellectual liberals who disregard the rest of the country. That would be the areas represented by Nigel Farage, the ex-banker, or Boris Johnson, that real man of the people.
Yes, you have a right to vote whichever way you want. Yes, we also have a right to disagree with you.
Yes, you can criticise those who will not let the matter rest. Yes, we have a right to do so – this is a democracy.
And, until you can tell me how a decision NOT voted for by 63% of the electoral is democratic, and until you can put forward coherent arguments that aren’t just a rehash of campaign slogans, I will continue to see you as – certainly a part of the population that feels ignored – people who have been fooled, conned and misled.
I am sorry if you feel this is in any way patronising, but you make it hard to have a serious discourse without anything but slogans and slurs coming from you.
I am ready to listen whenever you are ready. In the meantime, I will keep up the tirade against it all.
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