Thread by @syrpis

A quick thread on the Cummings evidence - and what it tells us about Brexit. 1/10

(This is very much a preliminary view; all thoughts very welcome).

The bit I want to focus on is the bit where he rails against the chaos and incompetence at the heart of Govt and the dangers of group-think. If he had hair, he would have been tearing it out. 2/10

His response was to seek to bring in 'talent' from outside. To create a plan and to operationalise it. To galvanise the state into action. 3/10

But... In the Brexit context that sounds... very discordant.

I get that Cummings' primary goal was to win the referendum.

But, in the years since 2016, with the Vote Leave team close to him, what was he (and the Govt) doing on Brexit? 4/10

At no stage did he (or the Govt) show any understanding of the fact that regulatory divergence = trade disruption; or of the NI border. There has been no attempt to map out a strategy for 'Global Britain'. No attempt to source expertise. 5/10

The coronavirus response has been badly bungled at various junctures, much to Cummings' evident frustration.

But the Brexit process has been badly bungled too. The economic and political hits to the UK just keep coming. 6/10

If anyone needs reminding, this thread from @rdanielkelemen has now reached 568 entries...

https://twitter.com/rdanielkelemen/status/1398288039642865670?s=20

7/10

It is difficult to reach any conclusion other than that the management of Brexit (the creation of better relationships with the EU and the wider world) has not been a priority. 8/10

Brexit just generates a) problems which they do not have the energy (or inclination?) to try to solve or even to mitigate; and b) opportunities to fly the flag and celebrate sovereignty and independence. 9/10

And neither Cummings, nor Johnson nor Gove - the 'architects' of Vote Leave - seem to object to that, or to want to devote their energies to finding a better outcome. 10/10