Dear Sir,
I was shocked to read some of the Brexit letters in last week’s Newton News. I found the viciousness of some of the language very distressing.
Worse still were the sentiments expressed by one writer, who declared Parliament to be “an anachronism … unfit for purpose” – “only fit to be put down”. That Parliament which, remember, is the basis of our democracy and freedom.
Nor are such sentiments just the rantings of a rogue keyboard authoritarian. On Tuesday 10th, Downing Street, in a letter almost as unrestrained in its language, issued a briefing which – along with insulting EU countries – clearly drew a separation between ‘the government’ and ‘Parliament’ (rather than seeing the government as the executor of Parliament’s will). Add physical force, and that is the language of revolution.
CHANGING THE TONE
I have been explicit that I want Brexit over and done with as quickly as possible, so we can move on and begin to address some of the evils which have bubbled to the surface during the process. Last week’s letters confirmed me in this opinion.
We are used to seeing it said that not all of the 17.4 million people who voted to Leave thought that meant leaving on a ‘No Deal’. But I wonder how many of them expected also to find themselves part of a movement which would explicitly try to undermine our Parliamentary democracy?
And I wonder how many of them are happy now to find themselves spearheaded by people who do not blush to write in public that they will “put down” Parliament?
Deal, no deal, or remain, we need to change the direction of the narrative.
John D. Clare
