What makes people like Anna Soubry tick?
The MP for Broxtowe argued that the economic necessity of
preventing a hard break from the EU meant she was not sorry for suggesting that
Theresa May should “sling out” ardent leave campaigners from the party.
In interviews with BBC Radio 4’s Week in Westminster
programme and the Guardian, Soubry said her Brexit-supporting colleagues had
used “really dreadful language” about Philip Hammond, the chancellor.
“Lets be very honest about this, mainly this is a group of
people who will always put their own ideology first and foremost – bigger than
any leader, bigger than any party – and they are determined they are going to
get their own way,” she said in an interview to be broadcast on Saturday.
She added: “Perhaps for the first time ever in the
Conservative party people are equally determined that they are not going to get
their own way. I am prepared to compromise – they are not – and we are fed up.”
Without wishing to delve into the whole tedious Brexit circus, it is still worth raising the issue of a national strategy. Politically we are where
we are, not somewhere else more in tune with Ms Soubry’s desires.
That being the case we have to move on from where we are and going backwards is
a most unattractive political option, if indeed it is an option.
Although it is easy enough to see politicians as cynical
opportunists, Ms Soubry seems to be telling us very clearly that emotion has a
strong role too. Maybe more so than we usually admit. Why make the issue into a
public drama if not for emotional reasons?
There is nothing fundamentally wrong with emotional
reactions, we need them to live, but within our human limitations they should not drive national strategic
thinking. At this stage of the Brexit game the issues are largely technical, or should be. Again – we are where we are.
6 comments:
I love the bit where she says of her Brexiteer opponents:
"Lets be very honest about this, mainly this is a group of people who will always put their own ideology first and foremost – bigger than any leader, bigger than any party –"
This is a career politician saying that she cannot conceive of having higher values than loyalty to the party and its leaders. Did it not occur to her that some might put their country, or freedom, even higher?
(Oh, by the way, AKH. Could you warn us if a link goes to the Guardian? It was quite a shock...)
Better to dwell in freedom's hall, With a cold damp floor and mouldering wall, than bow the head and bend the knee in the proudest palace of slaverie.
This is the schtick the Brexit mob are selling. Cold damp floor and mouldering wall for the majority and a healthy profit selling off our assets cheap for J R-M and Bo Jo. I would far rather live in reasonable comfort and have our politicians bowing their heads and bending their knees. That is what politicians are for.
There are no Sunny Uplands, we can never make a living selling pork pies to Indonesia, Bo Jo and Liam have come up with absolutely nothing. We now face VAT hassles, off shore regulations for car makers, more trouble for our finance industry. Ms Soubry does not go far enough.
Soon there will be a quiet knock on Mrs May's office door and some grey men will enter and have a very hard conversation. High time the grown ups were back in charge, we don't have to be where we are.
Anybody who saw Ms Soubry and Alan Johnson building an idealogical brick wall on This Week when faced with perfectly sensible suggestions and critiscism of the sainted NHS would see how difficult it is for the "man on the Clapham omnibus" to be heard or have his majority opinion implemented by those elected to carry out their constituents wishes.
Enough Anna Soubry......................
https://twitter.com/DanielJHannan/status/962479631055179778
As an old family friend might have said, "To euro or not to euro, that is the question."
Sam - good point. Consistency isn't Ms Soubry's strong point.
Roger - I see Brexit as a strategic move which at least allows us to think in terms of strategies. The EU doesn't even have a common language in which to define strategies.
Wiggia - it is difficult and without that we won't have a responsible democracy. Not enough involvement. Not that Brexit will in itself give us that, but without it we have no chance.
Demetrius - I think "not to euro" is the answer.
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