No ‘blind-date Brexit’ for Britain

The UK government is going through exceptionally tough times. Only a third of UK voters support Brexit unconditionally, according to an ICM poll that suggests a widespread desire for the government to release details of the deal sought with the EU BEFORE triggering Article 50. Or, in other words, two-thirds of voters oppose a ‘blind-date Brexit’. Plus, according to the latest Ipsos Mori poll, almost half of voters think the government is handling Brexit badly. Then, after being 10th in line to speak to president-elect Trump, Mrs May was obliged to witness Nigel Farage’s triumphantly smug grin beamed across the Atlantic direct from the golden portal of Trumpland. Next, there was the disputed, leaked Brexit memo from Deloitte, claiming that government departments are overstretched and there is no overall strategy and, crucially, criticising the Prime Minister’s leadership style (that she holds her cards too close to her chest). Now, it’s all well and good to hold your cards close to your chest. However, that can’t change the quality of the cards you hold. “I’m not telling you” very often means “I have no idea”. This government has no mandate and is led by an unelected PM who vaguely supported remaining in the EU. It has no clear-cut plan for the economic future of the country. The only definite announcement Theresa May has made as PM is that she wants more grammar schools (a view not shared by her backbenchers). Added to that, there are crises in the NHS, housing and the prison service due to lack of funding and/or policies. The UK’s on a disintegrating life raft, adrift in rough seas. We need a general election sometime soon – for the same reasons I gave here recently. Theresa May needs all the help she can get, so maybe she shouldn’t so readily dismiss Farage? After all, his self-styled credentials as ‘Mr Brexit’ are endorsed by the next occupant of the most powerful office in the world. And, incidentally, that image of Farage standing next to Trump in front of those glittering golden gates: Brexit at Tiffany’s, anyone? Nora Johnson’s thrillers ‘No Way Back’, ‘Landscape of Lies’, ‘Retribution’, ‘Soul Stealer’, ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora-johnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.99;£0.99) and iBookstore. All profits to Costa del Sol Cudeca cancer charity.