The depressing scuppering of the once proud United Kingdom is perhaps best viewed from ashore — from another nation state with a large glass of wine and some nibbles.
Some academics will no doubt trace the rise and fall of the Brits to an era pre-2016, albeit the bonkers BREXIT referendum imposed upon a sleeping nation by then Premier, David Cameron, signalled a momentum of monumental proportions. In a celebration of true farce Britain ‘accidently’ left the European Union — the largest trading block on the planet — when a serial liar on a bus, supported by a legion of other wannabee drivers, hoodwinked slightly more of the population than they didn’t. Even the arch protagonist kept his options open by writing two opinions: one pro-leave and, surprise, surprise, another that completely contradicted this position. He had also penned an entertaining book about his hero Winston Churchill that was so pro-European that it positively tasted of Brussels Sprouts, Belgian chocolate and French bread. Lord Heseltine wonderfully characterised the conductor by concluding that he “waits to see the way the crowd is running and then dashes in front.”
So those are the facts M ’Lord. Unescapable. Unequivocable. Pure and utter BREXIT bollocks. But why is the UK unable to climb out of the mire that has caused the governing Conservative party to orbit the black hole of insanity since it was apparently democratically decided to impose the most draconian trade sanctions upon us that have all but destroyed our once buoyant economy? As a footnote, the UK never lost its sovereignty to the EU. The critical issues relating to immigration, tax affairs and the broader domestic agenda were always matters to be decided upon by the sovereign parliament. So why does a nation once revered by almost the entire globe still seem destined to fall completely into the abyss?
No one has ever applied to be brainwashed. Yet, ordinary folk can often be prone to being dazzled by the snake oil reps by virtue of a variety of conditions: disengagement, perceived inferiority and loss, and marginalisation. Cult leaders know this and use it as an effective tool to recruit. Once lassoed it is almost impossible to escape the false, but nonetheless convincing, gravity of the group that coalesces around crude and simplistic narratives. For example: “Take back control!” “Get BREXIT done!” etc. As long as the sect continues the cultists will be impervious to the facts. But what of the rest, since not everyone will acquiesce in this way?
The remaining group (and without doubt the largest) of less than comfortable conformists to the craziness suffer from another disabling form of compliance: psychological trauma.
There is little doubt that BREXIT spawned significant partition. The referendum result was down to single digits of separation leading to hitherto strong friendships breaking down and even relatives re-evaluating kinship — never mind the political discord which has been utterly relentless, diminishing the UK’s global perception to one of parody. Whichever way individuals voted the outcome was consistent in that everyone became a captive to the cause. This cognitive discord is known as Stockholm syndrome.
In a nutshell, this seemingly abnormal reaction to a horrifying experience can only be successfully managed by creating a bond with the aggressors that develops in the days, weeks, months or even years that follow the trigger moment. Within this syndrome, hostages or abuse victims may become supportive of their captors. Or in the case of the UK, the principal conductor on the bus which has now comprehensively lost all of its wheels.
As the UK appoints its fourth Prime Minister since the 2016 watershed and opinion polls continue to reflect the realisation that BREXIT is an abject failure, don’t hold your breath for a simple fix to the self-inflicted chaos – benefiting only a sliver of the elite – that is consuming the many but was orchestrated by the very few. A salutary lesson for onlookers from outside of the British Isles, but an agonising real time autopsy for the inhabitants of this island nation — bereft of meaningful international alliances and totally rudderless.
But perhaps the road to redemption has a route map, as evidenced in the astute commentary of broadcaster James O’Brien: “Compassion for the conned, contempt for the conmen.” And of course, the power of the individual vote.
The UK is hopeful of resuming normal service in the not-so-distant future. Please be patient with us.
Title photograph by Ian Taylor on Unsplash
© Ian Kirke 2022
@ianjkirke