Thread by @fascinatorfun

This leak “was a deliberate political attack. Darroch was anti-Brexit ... So, in order to force him out, someone on the inside collaborated with Brexiteers in the media to leak the cables and create a dispute with the US President.”

Let that sink in europeantomorrow.blogspot.com/2019/07/how-br…

2/ “A diplomatic crisis with one of the UK's main allies was considered an acceptable vehicle for this attack, with seemingly no thought given to any long-term damage that could follow. And why?

3/. “Because Darroch, having held apolitical functions in the UK's diplomatic service for almost four decades, was considered unfit as he held the wrong political views.”

4/. Not only have they bent the referendum to ends that far exceeded its mandate

“....And most recently, civil servants who do not pass the Brexit loyalty test are also set to be hounded out of their posts.”

5/.

“By a series of incremental steps, Brexiteers have used the referendum mandate to declare a right not just to leave the European Union but to reorganise UK politics as a whole and to reorganise it according to their beliefs.”

6/
“Though they argue it would be about restoring competence and ability, the fundamental test being applied at every turn is political loyalty - there's no explanation of how competence is ever assessed,...

7/

“beyond the extent to which civil servants are willing to act as yes-men to politicians (a system that any reasonable observer could determine would reduce rather than enhance competence).

8/.

“The final result therefore is a vision for a powerful executive controlling a political civil service. Combine this with the demands for a tame judiciary and a 'patriotic' press and the dangers become more than self-evident. “

9/

“This is the authoritarian tendency of hard right populist regimes that we have seen develop across the world. It is the model of 'illiberal democracy' that Viktor Orbán has made his trademark. And we have seen the results of this kind of system.”

10/. @PascalLTH is right to conclude

“Far from enhancing or restoring 'true' democracy, it entails its destruction as executive power becomes overwhelming and uncontrollable.”.

Far from promoting competence it promotes instability & “yes” man mentality even faced with stupidity

11/
“Looking to the future, we must find ways to prevent this kind of situation from arising again - at the very minimum keeping referendums away from constitutional questions that are best dealt with by Parliament.”

12/
“In this process, do not be cowed by accusations that you are not respecting the referendum mandate - the mandate from the 2016 referendum is gone and it was Brexiteers who killed it”

WHEN we’ve beaten this back we need a Ministry for Constitional Reform &Citizen engagement.

13/

Out of this needs to be a raft of legislation and regulation to create a Referendum Commission that will, in turn, be responsible for both the creation and oversight of Citizen Assemblies.

I do not regard the latter as a quick and dirty fix.

14/

They cannot be a backdoor escape for politicians to avoid their responsibilities to make wise decisions.

Indeed those participating in citizens assemblies are deserving of effective protection against backlash.

As do experts called to assist sound, INFORMED decision making

15/. It there is to be a truth and reconciliation movement underpinning this then it will take great skill, wisdom, time and persistenance.

This, for me, is one of the most compelling reasons for #RevokeA50. Rethink. Reform.

Then see what citizens really want and why.

13/
Thanks to @seandanaher5 I attach a blog from him about lessons from Ireland on referendum.

We can also learn from Ireland about Citizen engagement through Assemblies & how to regulate & run them.

How to heel deep divisions that have lead to civil war

We seem to fuel them

Sorry. That was 16/!!!

17/. Here is the link. We really need to do some very deep, mature and steady thinking.

Reflecting not knee jerk responses in panic mode.

progressivepulse.org/brexit/how-to-…