By Paul Kavanagh
2018 was the year that the British government destroyed what shreds of its credibility remained. The fantasies of an Empire 2.0 and a UK bestriding the world stage, punching above its weight, and dictating the terms of its exit from the EU were replaced by confusion, recriminations, paralysis, and the desperate denial of reality by a Prime Minister motivated above all else by her desire for power and control. The red white and blue curtain was ripped away, revealing a nasty little authoritarian government, untrustworthy, and mendacious, determined to avoid accountability while crowing about the will of the people.
2018 was the year when the British government successfully rewrote history and redefined soft Brexit to mean anything that wasn’t crashing out with no deal at all. The possibilities aired during the EU referendum that it could be possible to leave the EU but to remain a part of the single market and customs union were forgotten. We face the isolationism of a nasty and inward looking little state, defined by xenophobia and suspicion. Freedom of movement will be a thing of the past, because this government and the right wing press only ever spoke about the right of EU citizens to move to the UK but never about the right of UK citizens to move to the EU. We’re all trapped with nothing but gammon and resentment.
Read the complete article and many more in this issue of
iScot Magazine
Purchase options below
If you own the issue,
Login to read the full article now.
Single Digital Issue
January/February 2019
This issue and other back issues are not included in a new iScot Magazine subscription. Subscriptions include the latest regular issue and new issues released during your subscription.
Annual Digital Subscription
€34,99
billed annually
Monthly Digital Subscription
€4,99
billed monthly