I sense an emerging space in the British politics market - I'll call it "Alt-Remain".
Not sure about that working title but let's run with it. /1
Not sure about that working title but let's run with it. /1
Alt-Remain will be made up of some 2016 Leave voters. They don't like EU membership, and yet the wretched & damaging Brexit choices of 2018 are pushing them - almost incredibly - towards a preference to stay. /2
In a binary fight between May's Deal and Remain, they'd choose Remain. No Deal is no option for them. Canada is gone. And EFTA/EEA has been corrupted by the misnamed NorwayPlus - the most pointless option of all.
So Remain it is. But it's Remain with zero enthusiasm. /3
So Remain it is. But it's Remain with zero enthusiasm. /3
From there, an Alt-Remain 'spectrum' emerges - no political grouping would be complete without one. Their lack of enthusiasm derived from the grim choice they didn't want to make results in a range of emotions from melancholy to simmering anger. That drives the spectrum.... /4
...from those who will try to pensively engage with the EU and Britain's semi-detached place in it...to the hotter heads who see Britain's "forced return" to the EU as an opportunity to disrupt it, while putting UK membership into stasis. /5
Alt-Remain will comfort itself that Art50 still exists "to keep the dream alive". But mostly its new focus will be to formalise the EU's euro & non-euro tiers.
At that point it may no longer be called "Alt-Remain" but something more appropriate. Like "euroscepticism".
/ends
At that point it may no longer be called "Alt-Remain" but something more appropriate. Like "euroscepticism".
/ends
