Thread by @rolandmcs

I think Remainers have been so focused on the Brexit process that they're missing what's really going on out there. And they're still making mistakes. /1

I speak of the digital transformation that's breaking open traditional centres of power across the world.

People are empowered and able to project that power like never before - whether they are right or wrong.... /2

The experience of Taiwan is instructive: the 'Sunflower' movement (protesting a trade agreement) ultimately led to the creation of the vTaiwan platform, connecting people to Govt in an ongoing conversation that fosters consensus [Oi Twitter!] /3

Sovereignty is ebbing away from parliaments - their monopoly on power is transferring to the people, with the corresponding rise of the 'citizen expert' [Cough...].

Democracy itself is being transformed in ways we can't yet fully predict. /4

Yet despite the modern Brexit movement starting out 30 years ago, its objectives - of 'people power' breaking open the citadels - are attuned to the digital age. Its methods are also digital.... /5

At this point, some Remainers will bellow - "Cambridge Analytica !! Get Carole!!"

But that misses the point. It's rather like focusing, not on the big picture, but on the validity of one particular paintbrush. /6

Then there's the "people's vote": a 2nd vote to end all votes. A *final* say or "last chance", after which - what? Power returns to Westminster and the doors shut again? Back in the hands of the Blairs, Campbells, Cleggs and Osbornes...? /7

No, Remain hasn't even reached first base with this stuff.

And maybe it can't. Remain does detailed policy quite well but not digital politics (for a low-attention audience). It's not focused on matters which stir the soul - matters which also play well in the digital world. /8

But things can change.

Firstly, the digital world is in an age of innocence: full of idealism, protest and easy answers. In fact it's very good at protest.... but less good at defining workable real-world policy. And in its innocence, it hurts people. /9

But the digital world's blundering political innocence is merely a reflection of people in general.

*We* are the blundering innocents who will eventually realise the world is difficult, policy is hard, and that "we are where we are" and "wouldn't start from here". /10

Secondly, the tide of digital activism pulling sovereignty & power out of 'old' institutions will be universal, affecting for example the EU, particularly - the European Commission. /11

All this plays into the Brexit debate.

Leavery is attuned to the digital zeitgeist but it's specifically attuned to its current blundering innocent phase.

That'll run its course, providing Remain-minded folk with their opportunity. But they need to get with the programme /ends

PS: I mentioned the Taiwan experience (tech-enabled backlash against a Govt trade agreement) but here's another excellent example & narrative from Germany (against CETA).
politics.co.uk/comment-analys…