Chess, Not Chequers

A General Election could now come at any moment.

This is one of the areas the votes of which decided the EU referendum. We voted to reject 39 years of failure under all three parties, going all the way back to the adoption of monetarism by the Callaghan Government in 1977, the year of my birth. 

Brexit needs to meet our needs, which are not for chasing after the unicorns of the “Anglosphere” (what were once the Dominions have moved on, and anti-British protectionism is America’s historical norm), but for trade deals with the BRICS countries even while remaining thoroughly critical of their present governments, for integration into the Belt and Road Initiative, for full enjoyment of our freedom from the Single Market’s bans on such measures as State Aid and capital controls, for an extra £350 million per week for the National Health Service, and for the restoration of the United Kingdom’s historic fishing rights in accordance with international law: 200 miles, or to the median line. 

Anything along the lines of “the Norway Option” would represent the only thing worse than staying in the EU, namely becoming a rule-taker but not a rule-maker, and paying while having no say, so that Britain would be reduced to a colony and a satrapy. 

The advocates of such a thing are those who, going all the way back to the initially pro-Market Enoch Powell, have only ever objected to the terms rather than to the principle of EU membership. In a referendum between that and Remain, then even Remain would be preferable. But the key is to stop matters from ever making it that far.

Although even if we did find ourselves in that position, then we could simply resume the struggle the next day. We could, we should, and we would. Some of us stand in the tradition that did precisely that in 1973, in 1975, and in 1983.

Unlike those who think that the whole thing only went wrong at some point in the very late 1980s, before which any opposition to it was labelled “Loony Left”, we have been in this for the very long haul, and we always will be.

Another hung Parliament is coming, and our people need to hold the balance of power in it. My crowdfunding page is here, or email davidaslindsay@hotmail.com for other options. That address accepts PayPal.