On Brexit

I have kept relatively quiet about Brexit. Friends and family, whom I love and respect, voted to Leave and I didn't want them to think that I loved or respected them any less (because I don't). I also didn't want to bring a politically charged conflict into my life (shocking as that may be to those of you who know me well 🙂 ).

However, having read about a Brexit Festival that will potentially cost £120 Million (seems like Mrs May found that magic money tree again) I just gotta say something. I say this with love, but it is time:

1. I am an immigrant. The way the Brexit campaign was conducted by the Leave factions made me feel deeply unwelcome in this country. People have said to me, 'Well, we didn't mean you,' (or words to that effect): Yes, you did mean me. I stand with all immigrants who have chosen (or been forced to choose) this place as home. If you don't want them, you don't want me either.

2. You do not have a clear picture of what the economic picture for Britain will be after Brexit. To say that it will be rosy and filled with possibility is a lie. I can say that with certainty because in my non-acting life, I work with the brightest business and economic minds in the world, and they readily admit that they don't know what will happen to the UK economy after Brexit (though they suspect growth will slow for a significant period). If the people I work with don't know what will happen, you don't either.

3. Undertaking what will be the largest administrative exercise since the establishment of the welfare state will not lead to reduction in Red Tape. The Red Tape may be made in Britain but it will still be Red Tape. (I kinda wish the passports were still going to be made in France, because it would have made this paragraph more poetic, but cest la vie).

4. Pretending that the Leave Campaign wasn't run based on emotive dishonesty is ridiculous. Vote Leave, BeLeave, Leave Means Leave, felt that the end justified the means. That's it.

5. If you are on the left and are concerned about continued membership of the EU because it might temper the reforms you feel are necessary in Britain; understand that the EU has also (more successfully than the political left) tempered the financial and regulatory excesses of the right. If you are not in power, your reticence to remain in the EU takes us down a road of more deregulation and privatisation.

6. If you are a Unionist and want the UK to be made up of four countries and you support Brexit. You're gonna be disappointed very soon.

Lastly (and I struggled with whether I should write this) if you voted Leave you don't get to dissociate yourself from the nastier elements of the campaign. By voting for it, you endowed them with legitimacy.

There are deep divisions in this country that were ignored by our Governments (of both the left and the right). But, I don't believe Europe and our membership in the Union was the primary cause of them.

Could the EU be reformed? Could things be more streamlined? Could there be more fiscal progressiveness - yes, definitely. Is it the main source of problems in the UK? No. No. No. The electorate was manipulated to believe that Europe was a great evil.

Having embarked on this mess I struggle to see a way forward. I hate referenda, they are often badly worded and ask binary questions where non-binary answers are demanded. However, I now believe that a second presentation to the people is required, regardless of whether there is a deal or not.

If the Government reaches a deal I want them to ask me the following:

1. Do you support the Government's deal with the EU to leave membership.

2. If you do not, should the Government: a) Negotiate a further deal b) Apply for the UK to stay within the EU

If the Government does not reach a deal I want to be asked:

1. Do you support leaving EU Membership without a deal

2. If you do not, should the Government: a) Return to the table to negotiate futher b) Apply for the UK to stay within the EU.

Our politicians need to set aside their egos and negotiate a future that will benefit all UK citizens, not just those with free market business interests. Also Boris Johnson needs to go away.

But above all, now is not the time to be planning parties.