Maastricht-era euroscepticism died on 23/6/16 - buried under a tidal wave of reactionary, immigration-based, post-2004 Brexit politics.
This 1990s form of euroscepticism - marked by Maastricht battles, 'White Wednesday', avoiding the €uro, being sanguine about migration, looking longingly at the Swiss & Norwegians, and pragmatism in the face of EUtopian over-exuberance - is finished.
Its 2016 "Liberal Leave" manifestation is dead too.
Protagonists have mostly either been swept along with the No Deal reactionaries or instead 'cling to the wreckage' (represented by May's Deal). Some have wavered between the two, unsure what to now think.
Protagonists have mostly either been swept along with the No Deal reactionaries or instead 'cling to the wreckage' (represented by May's Deal). Some have wavered between the two, unsure what to now think.
A few stragglers still fantasise about a corrupted version of their old affections, called "NorwayPlus" (more accurately "MayPlus") because, well, it's got the word Norway in it.
It'd need a miracle for it to happen. And what would be the point anyway?
It'd need a miracle for it to happen. And what would be the point anyway?
But it's true that No Deal has won over some Maastricht-era sceptics.
Like 'pure' forms of religion, No Deal represents both theological soundness and rampant unreason.
It also represents a last stand against what is seen as an orchestrated stitch-up.
Like 'pure' forms of religion, No Deal represents both theological soundness and rampant unreason.
It also represents a last stand against what is seen as an orchestrated stitch-up.
As if this lot in Govt could orchestrate anything.....and as if the last two years of one unforced error after another never happened.
But No Deal is a very personal theological stance. Facts bounce off it.
But No Deal is a very personal theological stance. Facts bounce off it.
So it'll be interesting to see what happens next.
Happy New Year to all followers.
Happy New Year to all followers.
