Do opinion polls matter?
It seems that more people in the UK blame the EU for the post Brexit problems in Northern Ireland, than blame the UK Government. Which might be a surprise since this is the deal that the UK asked for, negotiated and cheered when it was signed.
But considering the decades of ignorance about the EU and the UK’s relationship with it, this should not be much of a shock. The big question is what will happen if the UK tears up the NIP and with it the whole withdrawal agreement?
The Government must assume that the EU will get the blame, the right wing press will rally round and any damage will not be laid at Brussels’ door.
That is quite a risk to take, people do eventually blame the Government when things go wrong. But it is also, of course, completely cynical and will cause real damage to the British economy, its international reputation and its political system.
https://jonty.substack.com/