When out drinking with friend @giles_fraser we decided to have a serious, civilized conversation about Brexit and identify the roots of our different opinions. He is pro-Brexit and I am anti-Brexit. We managed it and here’s what we concluded
There was some ground-clearing first. Both agree not all nationalism is bad. Scottish Nationalism is inclusive, welcoming, open. GF thinks England needs a similarly positive nationalism. Both agree there’s a problem with English nationalism at present.
GF thinks EU power to distant from those who can vote to change it. Fair but BCS thinks Scotland feels the same about UK Gov and trusts EU more, on e.g. workers’ rights, food standards.
BCS and GF have opposing views of what EU means for global corporations. GF thinks it enables them, where BCS thinks it can help to constrain them. Probably agree this is an empirical question.
Both believe we cannot return to status quo ante. Both think we need political action to reduce poverty and improve equality. BCS thinks that will be more achievable if we are in the EU, GF thinks it is more achievable outside. Neither of us know for sure.
Neither of us think immigration is a bad thing or should be severely curbed. Refugees need our help. Other migrants are subject to immigration controls.
GF wants us to have control of our immigration so that non-EU citizens from Syria, or Somalia, or Ghana have equal opportunities to be part of the immigration numbers we need as people from the EU. BCS sees the force of this argument.
Conceivably, a Lab Gov under Corbyn would have such an immigration policy as Diane Abbott’s recent speech shows. BCS not confident we’ll elect a Corbyn Gov. GF things it’s likely after Tories mess up on Brexit
In the end, differences remain on these points, many of them based on uncertainties about which we can have informed opinions but no definitive answers yet. GF more willing to roll the dice than BCS who flavours broader cooperation re climate and economy
It was worth patiently working through these fundamental points of difference, identifying shared values but recognizing different views of how to promote them. Both of us prone to visceral reactions but care and willingness led to better understanding
