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Brexiters talk about having to implement the result of the referendum as if it were a divine commandment. But Brexit itself isn't affected by the vote to leave. A lemon is a lemon, whether you're a Leaver or Remainer. Gravity affects people of all political persuasions the same.
Yet magically Brexit is supposed to be different, because of how the referendum turned out? Cause and effect don't work like that. You can't vote to win the lottery. You can't vote for your team to win the football. You can't vote for Brexit to be a success.
Once you figure that out, you'll realise that we're all on the same side. We are fighting the consequences of Brexit. The manner of our struggle may be different. Some may want to vanquish Brexit by remaining in the EU. Others by pushing to change the terms of our departure.
But we're united by a common understanding: Brexit as it stands, as it's shaping up to play out, will be a disaster for the UK. Theresa May's Brexit deal is not what anyone wanted. As compromises go, it's diabolical. You wouldn't agree to mix *some* manure into a chocolate cake.
That's not a rational way to counter those calling for the cake to be made out of manure. No, you'd look them straight in the eye and say "Your recipe is crazy. Nobody in their right mind would ever make it. I'm not going to waste another second on it, or you. Be gone, already."
That's the conversation Theresa May should be having with the no-deal wreckers of the ERG. They are peddling manure, while claiming it's a feast. Time to say "begone, already." Time to grow up, inject reason back into the debate. Stop running. Start fighting.
And if Theresa May's deal is the best we can get, it's not good enough. Not nearly good enough. It is not worth sacrificing our economy and our place in the world for. It is not worth giving up our right to live, love, learn and work in the EU, or putting our security at risk.
It is not worth chasing out our friends and neighbours of long standing. It is not worth the years or decades of arguing that will inevitably follow Brexit Day, as we try to cobble together some kind of new relationship with the EU and the rest of the world.
So let's see the ERG and hardcore Brexiters for the destroyers they are. If Brexit breaks the UK, they don't care. They get to tear up our laws and tear down our industries, privatise the NHS and turn us into a low tax, low hope version of Singapore.
And their pals - the hedge fund managers, turnaround vultures and disaster capitalists - will cosy up to our jugular, and suck our economy dry. Is that the future our strong, proud nations deserve? I don't think so.
But there is another way. An easy, difficult way. A safe, dangerous way. A simple, complicated way. And that is to revoke Article 50, and stay. The process is quick and simple, the consequences long-lasting, and very hard to swallow for many.
Is it a perfect solution that will magic away every problem the UK's ever faced? Absolutely not. Is it better than any of the current Brexit options. Yes. A thousand times yes. And by revoking Article 50, we get to focus on everything that's been so sorely neglected. On the NHS.
On failing schools, and mental health, and homelessness. On a million things that are in many ways more important than Brexit, but which have been shoved out of consideration by our desperate focus on leaving the EU at any cost. Let's choose a brighter future, together. ENDS.
