I THINK I have a word of advice for those who were on the winning side in the recent Brexit referendum in the UK and who are now preparing for Britain’s departure from the European Union: stop behaving in such a truculent manner, you won.
There is no need for you to keep attacking and insulting those who voted to remain, they (we) lost.
The speeches and comments from the winning side seem to me to be shot through with insecurity, with some deep worry perhaps that the great Brexit project might not go well.
And so they lash out at those who voted to remain – and who on the whole are actually staying relatively silent, waiting for what will happen next.
So some of the more exotic (meaning, divorced from reality) newspapers rant about ‘Remoaners’ and suchlike, sometimes à propos of absolutely nothing.
And the Brexit politicians and their surrogates come up with ever more ludicrous statements, like one Stewart Jackson MP (who understandably is not a household name) who has suggested that all patriotic British people should boycott the Economist because of its ‘liberal smugness’ and ‘Remoaner whining’.
Dear me.
Or the Daily Mail and Daily Express newspapers peddling conspiracy theories and suggesting the voices of ‘Remainers’ should be silenced.
Or the deservedly unknown Tory Councillor Christian Holliday (who should maybe take a break), who started a petition to make arguing for the EU an act of treason.
We might and should ignore the latter idiot completely – his ‘petition’ has been taken down, though not without having received some support first – but for the really curious response to it by the Prime Minister, Theresa May.
When asked whether she supported the idea that support for EU membership should be treason, a spokesman replied (according to the BBC):
‘Different people will choose their words differently. The prime minister is very clear that the British people have made their decision.’
There was only one possible rational answer to the question, and that was ‘No.’
The fact that the Ms May apparently couldn’t being herself to answer clearly is itself astonishing, and potentially a cause for concern.
Supporters of Brexit are now filling the airwaves with conspiracy theories and loud complaints about all those who don’t agree with them, blaming them in a precautionary way for any economic turbulence that may yet emerge.
The curious thing is that all the whining, notwithstanding these claims to the contrary, is now coming from the Brexit side.
But why?
Are they so insecure, so unable to see their mission with a sense of self-confidence?
Do they think that they must cover their own inability to manage the Brexit agenda with a barrage of insults aimed at those who have the temerity to ask them about it; or indeed even those saying nothing at all?
It is clear that the United Kingdom will leave the European Union.
It must do so on the best terms available for the economy and for society.
That necessary objective should prompt close and constructive collaboration and inclusiveness; not these constant attacks and stupidities.
Brexiteers, it’s time for you to realise that you won and to grow up.