The Brexit secretary, David Davis, speaking in the Withdrawal Bill debate yesterday said that the eyes of the nation were on the chamber and he was right. However, if the people were looking for leadership, I am afraid they didn't find it.
Too many MPs will vote for the bill even though they know it will cause immense damage to this country and future generations. Only Ken Clarke (HERE) on the conservative side said openly he would vote against the bill and in a terrific speech he mocked brexiteers as well as the idea that referendums are a substitute for proper government. Putting incredibly complex issues to the electorate was, he said, rather ridiculous.
Ian Duncan Smith derided the idea that people didn't know what they were voting for in last year's referendum. That he and other brexiteers think this doesn't surprise me. They themselves don't understand the issues. No one of my acquaintance read any part of the government documents setting out the case to remain and as far as I can tell, they all voted on entirely spurious reasons. I think that only a very small number of people really understand the issues, and they are virtually unanimously in favour of remaining.
In the house of commons there is a substantial majority to remain and on the basis that we are unlikely ever to vote for too many irrational people, this is unlikely to change. I hope when the time comes there will be some leaders emerge rather then meekly following the insane brexiteers over the cliff.
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