Better late than never

Towards the end of the Second World War, when Hitler was in his bunker, some countries that had stayed out of the conflict for 5 long years decided to declare war on Germany.

Since they were all a very long way away, quite small and rather late, it is safe to say that their contribution to the Allied victory was non existent.

Which brings me to the British Chamber of Commerce, which today is calling for the next government (probably not R. Sunak in the Downing Street bunker) to stop “walking on eggshells” about improving trade with the EU.

This would, they say, boost economic growth, which we all know is true.

Now, it easy to say that they are late to the party and only jumped when the result was certain rather like a latter day Chile (11 April 1945 since you ask) but that is being petty minded. The fact is that although the Chambers might have been saying this for years quietly and even possibly effectively behind closed doors, it knew full well that the Tory party was run by a bunch of unrealistic, naive, stupid, self harming europhobes, who live in an alternative reality where Brexit is a success.

Even more worryingly the few members of the government who knew this not to be the case where so terrified of their own back benchers, the ERG, Reform and the comments section of the Torygraph that they kept their heads down.

They did not put their country first, nor even their party if the polls are anything to go by, they did immense damage as the Chambers of Commerce’s members know to their cost and there is nothing we can do about it now. The Chambers of Commerce might have well have been talking to themselves. The past is the past.

We have to start afresh, try to build bridges instead of burning boats. Even modest proposals are already being portrayed as a Brexit betrayal, re-entry of the EU by the back door and treason. The Chamber of Commerce has to stand up now and be counted and support any measures that will improve things.

But at least with a sizeable majority Labour can ignore the swivel eyed loons for a few years and hopefully do things that will improve trade, not hamper it.

A dose of reality will do the country good, economically it is a no brainer. The country has been lied to for far too long, some facts will do no harm at all.

Jonty’s Jottings

Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.

By Jonty Bloom Media