The government is dropping plans to repeal, change or abolish all retained EU law by next year. the sighs of relieve from industry, lawyers, politicians and anyone with an ounce of common sense, is almost deafening.
But for the Brexit ultras this is yet another betrayal. Why?
Well, they think every EU law is a bad or unnecessary law, that can and should be replaced immediately. But the vast majority of these laws were introduced after negotiation and with the agreement of the UK government, they just replaced current UK laws so that there would be a consistent pan European legal agreement, which was how the Single Market was created.
With the same laws, standards, checks and rules goods and services could be trusted from one end of the continent to the other, they didn’t need checking again, they were universal.
There is therefore no point in changing or abolishing them, you would have to replace them with identical UK laws, or the UK laws would not be accepted in the EU. The UK’s products and services would be un-exportable.
It was and is a suicidally stupid idea.
But for the Brexit ultras that is not the point, their fantasy world is crumbling around them, because it is a fantasy.
The desperate articles claiming a world wide conspiracy against them, a woke “virus”, a treasonous government and civil service, woke businesses, lying economists, remain supporting international organisations, statisticians and governments, will continue.
Maybe they will tell us who is coordinating this worldwide plot against them? Who could it be?
The simple fact is they were wrong, they lied, the facts are obvious, undeniable to any but the wilfully blind.
But the screams of betrayal, of “alternative facts”, will get ever louder. I am seriously worried about the mental health of some of these people.
They are beginning to make flat-earthers look rational.
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.
It's important to maintain the narrative.
In reality there is hardly a Member of Parliament who hasn't at some time or other lied about the EU for the sake of maintaining Britain's favourite fantasy narratives.