2/
Imagine for a moment you’re NOT the type of person that watches Newsnight, regularly reads a newspaper or went to Uni. Imagine you’re a busy person with family.
That is, imagine you're in the majority of the population.
& the governing party offer a referendum with 2 choices.
3/
To the average person why would a govt run by a party thats largely ruled the country since a century offer a choice btwn 2 options if one was stupid, self-harming nonsense?
This doesn’t seem a big point point – but its utterly central to Brexit..& one remainers often miss.
4/
The very fact that leave EU was an option gave it…to the average person - a respectability.
Otherwise you have to face the fact that much of the ruling class are idiots..& didnt think things thru.
Now that might be easy to a cynical, Guardian reader – but again 95% aren’t.
5/
Next problem:
Custom unions, trade blocs & economics.
Again 95% of voters don’t understand these - & judging by their comments this 95% includes MPs.
If Nadine Dorries confuses Single mkt with custom areas (her job!) – why do we expect voters to understand these things?
6/
Its unPC or at least undiplomatic to say so but its true.
The UK offered a vote on something the vast majority of voters (incl MPs!) didn’t understand & gave both options the “establishment blessing” as perfectly adequate outcomes.
And we’re blaming voters?
REALLY?
7/
The simple truth is that the referendum was fought on emotion & the version of the “English Gentleman” the voters found most appealing.
Its often overlooked that while Cameron & Johnson come from very similar entitled backgrounds they're actually quite different...
8/
Cameron is the smooth, steady-as-she-goes, polite “good chap”.
Johnson is the Woosterish club man always good for a joke about the French.
Both rely on the traditional - & often unexpressed publicly - English deference to the upper class to succeed.
& Johnson shaved it.
9/
Now I know some of you will say “Yes but voters didn’t like the EU, wanted law-making powers back etc” – well quite possibly some of them did.
They may even have convinced themselves.
But very few among the 95% were saying that 15 years ago.
https://t.co/OIggiveaNX
10/
But imagine "Boris” arguing “We can beat the Frog better inside EU than out” or that Cameron had come along with 100 page post-Brexit strategy…Johnson may have won.
Point is Brexit didn’t just suit Johnson’s leadership ambitions – it was an easier sell emotionally for him.
11/
The real problem.
It wasn’t just voters who let emotions sway them.
MPs did.
There were no plans for Brexit as only people who thought it might win didn’t believe in planning & the good old chaps who might be able didn’t believe in it.
Again:
THIS ISN’T THE VOTERS FAULT.
12/
The failure of the English Gentleman
& well…here’s one I’ve prepared earlier explaining the real reason why Brexit must be carried out:
Its to save the idea of the English gentleman…as without it….the voters might realise there’s nothing...there.
https://t.co/ZLcjDaVse2
