The current state of Brexit was not a surprise, as it was both predicted and predictable. During my visit to the U.K. this summer, I noticed a peculiar political taboo surrounding discussions about the failures of Brexit, even among those who opposed it. Brexit symbolized the beginning of a revolt against cosmopolitanism that ultimately led to Donald Trump’s rise to power. Unfortunately, both Brexit and Trump’s reign ended up being catastrophic, leaving their respective countries exhausted and depleted. However, while the U.S. continues to extensively discuss Trump, Brexit is a topic that many in the U.K. prefer to avoid contemplating.
Tory lawmaker Tobias Ellwood, who has advocated for his colleagues to acknowledge the mistake of Brexit, described it as a “toxic” subject weighed down by tremendous time and pain. He compared it to a “wound” that people are reluctant to reopen. London mayor Sadiq Khan, one of the few Labour Party leaders who actively addresses the consequences of leaving the EU, referred to a deafening “omertà” or vow of silence surrounding the issue. He expressed his frustration with the lack of discourse on Brexit, calling it the “elephant in the room.”
The lack of conversation regarding Brexit’s consequences can be attributed, in part, to the demographics of the Labour Party. Approximately one-quarter to one-third of Labour voters supported Brexit, and a significant portion of these voters reside in the working-class areas of the Midlands and Northern England known as the Red Wall. These areas, once staunchly supporting Labour, shifted right in the 2019 election. Joshua Simons, director of the Labour Together think tank, explained that these voters are not interested in engaging in Brexit discussions.
Exhaustion also plays a significant role, as the Brexit issue dominated British politics from the 2016 referendum until the final agreement in 2020. Many people simply want to move on from the topic. Simons adds a third factor, which is a sense of honoring the results of a democratic referendum. He references the viewpoint of his mentor, political philosopher Danielle Allen, who argued that in a democracy, sometimes everyone collectively makes irrational decisions. Therefore, the focus should be on coming together rather than evaluating whether the decision was right or wrong.
As a person from a more polarized country, I find this concept somewhat foreign. If a divisive electorate imposed such a costly and ultimately unpopular policy on my country, I believe there would be a rush to reverse it. However, in the U.K., referendums are rare and typically held for major issues, and they hold significant weight in the political landscape, which is difficult for an outsider like myself to fully comprehend.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
