So in the last couple of days
1 A Times columnist praises authoritarians
2 An MEP wants the law of treason to apply to at least some Remainers
3 Another MEP writes sabre rattling stuff in the Sun
Some thoughts...
1 A Times columnist praises authoritarians
2 An MEP wants the law of treason to apply to at least some Remainers
3 Another MEP writes sabre rattling stuff in the Sun
Some thoughts...
2 Initially this can be traced back to the jingoistic variety of Brexit arguments, which gained prominence during the referendum campaign, alongside (it should be recalled) less febrile arguments. 
3 A responsible government, taking account of the close result and the murder of an MP by a political extremist, would have sought to try to calm things down.
We were not blessed with such a government. Instead we got "red lines" and "citizens of nowhere" rhetoric.
We were not blessed with such a government. Instead we got "red lines" and "citizens of nowhere" rhetoric.
4 Various forms of far right rhetoric and jingoistic nonsense are published regularly in much of the UK press.
5 The absurdity of the core Brexit argument - that the UK would be free of all constraints without any negative economic impact - was bound to be exposed over time.
The responses:
A) we never said that
B) it's worth it anyway
C) it's all your fault
The responses:
A) we never said that
B) it's worth it anyway
C) it's all your fault
6 "We never said that" is gaslighting: an easily disproved falsehood.
"It's worth it anyway" is true for the true believers, but not the whole 52% - given that the Leave campaign slogans were *not* "let's stockpile food and medicine" or "Brexit might improve things in 50 years"
"It's worth it anyway" is true for the true believers, but not the whole 52% - given that the Leave campaign slogans were *not* "let's stockpile food and medicine" or "Brexit might improve things in 50 years"
7 But "it's all your fault" is a more troubling argument. It's not simply factually absurd - as if Barnier's strategy is based on @acgrayling tweets - but risks justifying violence toward Remainers or EU countries.
8 While we should be aware of those risks, these angry jingoists might only be speaking for a few. The Leave voters I know IRL aren't racist or stupid; nor are they likely to follow calls for violence or warfare. I suspect Danny Dyer has rather more legions than Dan Hannan.
9 Ultimately we need to stay calm, prepare as best we can for "no deal" Brexit in case it proves necessary, keep rebutting falsehoods and weak arguments, and remember that traditionally Britain doesn't elect jingoists - it ridicules them. //
