Deep state...of mind
The idea now seems to be taking hold that Brexit is being frustrated by a Deep State. This anonymous and secret body is made up of traitors, Guardian readers, liberal elites, lawyers, europhiles and all the rest.
In fact, it is just the latest manifestation of the deep denial and fantasies of the Brexiteers. It is pathetic but also very worrying because it cannot hold.
Attempts will doubtless be made to make Brexit work “properly” and this will involve ever more extreme versions of Brexit. That will mean bypassing the Civil Service, the courts and the law. Independent bodies will be bent to the government’s will or broken. Dodgy, immoral, illegal and unworkable political and economic decisions will be forced on the country.
It could start with anything but probably a manufactured dispute over Northern Ireland, then paranoia and a massive over reaction to the EU’s legal moves. Maybe a fight over fishing or retaliatory tariffs. Tearing up the TCA, going to WTO terms, a flight of capital and talent, a run on the pound. Any and all of the above are only too possible.
Anyone not backing the government’s pathetic attempts to make Brexit pure and successful will be a traitor or a saboteur. Merely pointing out facts will be betrayal, any failures will be down to a lack of faith.
But it still won’t work, the centre cannot hold, it will fall apart.
If British common sense still prevailed someone would gently take the Brexiteers hands off the levers of power and take them to a dark room for a cup of tea and a chat.
But common sense is dead, we are in uncharted waters, this is going to be very messy, dangerous and painful.
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.