Thread by @ajcdeane

About to speak on a panel for the last day of the LSE German Symposium @SuSocGerman. Brexit, obvs

First point. We have yet to get beyond the primal scream of anger in response to Brexit. We are three years on from the vote and there’s only so much political capital in any debate. But many remainers esp on continent want to refight 2016 referendum & demand we justify ourselves

This isn’t some calculated manoeuvre. It’s honestly felt. But historians will look back and wonder why more Euro-efforts weren’t put into getting the best arrangement for the future as they perceive it to be rather than fruitlessly beating the “2016 was wrong” drum

Just as I don't assume malice on the part of political opponents, I don't assume stupidity or madness either. We happen to disagree. But it was put to us that Brexit was like "jumping out of a skyscraper", "going off a cliff," "sticking a knife in your own stomach."

Not following us simply a matter of "not being crazy". Because why bother to seek to understand why millions in a liberal democracy voted to leave your club, when you can just laugh and mock and point instead? Assert collective craziness, unique to the UK to boot?

Make a *virtue* of the fact you don't even try to understand!

"If, unfortunately, the British decide to leave..." Guys, we're leaving in six weeks! How much longer will this refusal to deal with reality go on for? Two years after leaving, will MEPs be saying "if, unfortunately, the British leave..."

"I'm in favour of a European army, but I'm pragmatic and if the price of keeping the Brits in is not having then I am willing to go the extra mile and give that up"
Your generosity moves me so...

"the bus!" 🙄
"Putin supports it so it must be wrong!" 🙄
"you didn't really vote about the EU, you voted about other things, just like the Dutch or French did." How lucky you know why we *really* voted. Why bother letting us vote at all, as you *know* our true views?

But of course, the EU is so generous... not only are we allowed to vote, as the Dutch, French, Irish et al know, if you vote the wrong way, you get to vote *again*!

And finally... very pleased by the many students who came to say thanks for expressing views with which they so plainly disagreed. Civility and openmindedness and thoughtfulness are wonderful and will win out, I must believe...

Cracking the funnies