Before it joined the EU, Irish national identity was very much linked with its identity as a former British colony. Resentment of Britain was commonplace. It was complex mix of feelings of inferiority and superiority.
In the EU, Ireland has found itself. A European nation, socially liberal and economically better off.
When British colonialists say Ireland should know its place instead of getting angry the Irish laugh at them.
When British colonialists say Ireland should know its place instead of getting angry the Irish laugh at them.
If an Irish politician had threatened food shortages in Britain as part of negotiation can you imagine the outrage at Westminster.
Yet that suggestion from a Brexiteer caused basically no reaction in Dublin. The same Brexiteers were confident the EU would abandon Ireland in the negotiations. Their analysis was incorrect.
Ireland knows its place in the world and what has become painfully obvious during this process is that Britain has delusions about its place in the world. Cakeism dominates the vocal part of the ruling party.
It is telling that it is only at this stage some people are starting to realise that freedom of movement works both ways. That British people do not have some sort of inalienable right to move and settle in any part of Europe they choose.
Britain is a significant economic power and we will see in the coming years how much of that power was derived from membership of the European Union. I am all for trade deals, let’s hope they’re as economically transformative as some have promised.
Britain is a nuclear armed state, but it can’t afford to feed its people. Millions of children live in poverty. Britain may well have the finest armed forces in the world, but they are undermanned, have low morale and are poorly equipped.
On the other hand, it is possible that Brexit will raise Britain’s standing in the world, boost our economy and create a more equal and prosperous society. This may just be turbulence.
The process is certainly harming Britain’s image. Once admired for its stability, it’s now the basket case of Europe, unable to negotiate its way out of a paper bag, with a hung parliament where every MP has an opinion and none of them has a plan that can command support.
I am optimistic by nature, but I do worry that this process will lead to the break up of the U.K., damage our image internationally and cause decades of austerity.
Whatever the outcome, good, bad or somewhere in between, Britain will certainly learn a lot about its place in the world in the coming years. And I know that the advocates of Brexit will take all the credit for a good outcome and blame everyone but themselves for a bad one.
Thank you for listening to my sermon.
