OT. The futures Bright, the Futures Brexit!!!

[Geoff Parkstone]

A couple of observations. I think, from my perspective, Brexit was about the sovereignty of the British democratic system. That system incorporates some largely archaic powers of the monarchy, so no problems with HRH getting dragged into this BUT I think she would be well advised to keep out of it, if possible.

Cummings - I know he is the devil incarnate to you rA, but is his involvement that different to the roles of senior civil servants, who are appointed not elected, and advisory rather than decision making? Unlike the Commission which has more power than the civil service here.

[ramAnag]

Is not the sovereignty of Parliament central to our democratic system then GP?

Cummings was the man behind Brexit and is a ‘mate’ of Johnson and the ERG. I think it is unusual for you to be so naive as to think of him as being in an advisory rather than decision making role.

Neither Cummings nor Banks have any democratic credibility whatsoever and yet I suspect they are two of the greatest driving forces behind any form of Brexit.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Parliament is part of our democratic system, not the B all and end of it

[ramAnag]

Parliament is part of our democratic system, not the B all and end of it

Indeed, but it’s difficult to understand quite how a Parliamentary Democracy has any credibility or viability without a Parliament.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Given the performance of parliament over the last 3 years I'm not sure it's added much to the cause of democracy.

[ramAnag]

Given the performance of parliament over the last 3 years I'm not sure it's added much to the cause of democracy.

Can’t argue too much with that, although I think it’s been a lot longer than three years.

[swaledale]

Given the performance of parliament over the last 3 years I'm not sure it's added much to the cause of democracy.

Other than its accurately reflected the mood of the country, which is or at least on the basis of the 37% who voted, split pretty evenly down the middle. So one could say parliament is being properly represented!

People seem to like it when "big bold decisions" are made which though ignoring convention, reality, economics or other such trifles seem to solve the problem, unfortunately (as no doubt many germans will understand) a politician that makes promises about resolving complicated issues through simplistic spin and empty promises often has rather nasty negative results for a lot of people, including ironically those that supported him or her.

[Trickytreesreds]

Other than its accurately reflected the mood of the country, which is or at least on the basis of the 37% who voted, split pretty evenly down the middle. So one could say parliament is being properly represented!

People seem to like it when "big bold decisions" are made which though ignoring convention, reality, economics or other such trifles seem to solve the problem, unfortunately (as no doubt many germans will understand) a politician that makes promises about resolving complicated issues through simplistic spin and empty promises often has rather nasty negative results for a lot of people, including ironically those that supported him or her.

America 1776/Russia 1917/India 1947/Yugoslavia 1995 all bold decisions. Should they have happened?

Ps, I could counter attack your comparison with the rise of Hitler, by comparing the EU with the rise of the Nazi party. Both formed in exactly the same way.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Or the rise of the Nazi party to that of the Labour party: both formed on a base of socialism, both ultimately anti semitic

[ramAnag]

GP...you know better than that. To say that the Labour Party is ‘ultimately anti Semitic’ is ridiculous. There may well be anti semites within the Labour Party and there are almost certainly members of the Labour Party who are opposed to the Israeli stance on Palestine, but to describe the Labour Party as ‘ultimately anti Semitic’ makes about as much sense as describing all football supporters as hooligans.

Tricky...in what way is the EU - for all its faults - trying to create a united Europe in any way comparable with Hitler and the Nazis attempting a military invasion of Europe and the demonisation and ultimate destruction of one particular race/creed of people?
Seems to me your paranoia and disregard for the truth knows no bounds.