2017 May

 

Three ways forward to change our Brexit minds – suggested by Helena Kennedy, Antonio Tajani, and Jonathan Steele, in recent days, from very different viewpoints:

Helena Kennedy on understanding the protections of international law

Helena Kennedy, leading lawyer on social justice and human rights, questions the legality of Theresa May’s approach to Brexit – in particular her attempt to wrestle to the ground the European Court of Justice (ECJ).   May tries to apply the simplistic ‘Take Back Control’ to the complexities of the continuing relations we have with our European partners, Brexit or no.   In an article in The Guardian, Kennedy points out that ‘if you have cross-border rights and contracts you have to have cross-border law and regulations. And if you have cross-border law you have to have supranational courts to deal with disputes’.   The ECJ was largely constructed by British lawyers and protects British citizens’ rights and benefits in many daily ways.   Kennedy describes ‘everything from financial services, trade, farming, fishing, security, environment, employment and maternity rights to industry standards and consumer rights. Intellectual property law, for instance, covers a huge array of research, entrepreneurship, invention and creativity’  The European patent court  was due to be opened in London shortly. What happens to it now?

Antonio Tajani – we would welcome you back

Antonio Tajani is President of the European Parliament.   He visited Theresa May in London with a clear message – we would prefer you not to leave – you can revoke Article 50 whenever you like.   Come back.    Last weekend the European Parliament agreed firm positions to underpin the EU negotiators’ work in discussing the terms of Brexit.   Tajani’s velvet glove encloses an iron fist – the European Parliament has to approve the final terms the negotiators reach.   The grumpy opening exchanges this week still demonstrate that David Davis and his colleagues think they have a strong hand – it is, as Angela Merkel says, ‘an illusion’.

Jonathan Steele – ‘abandon this ruinous Brexit’

Jonathan Steele has been a highly-respected foreign correspondent for more than 40 years.   His opinion couldn’t be more clear – the UK is heading for worse relations with our neighbours and main trading partners.   Pursuing Brexit inflicts terrible wounds on ourselves and our society.   He calls for the Labour party to campaign unambiguously to stop the Brexit process now.

Three ways forward

Jonathan Steele’s comments apply to all the parties.   David Davis, British Minister for Brexit, said ‘If a democracy cannot change its mind, it ceases to be a democracy’ (see my previous article) .   We must change our minds from the ‘we have to put up ith Brexit’ mode and the minds of our fellow-citizens.   Three ways forward in this election: vote LibDem – the clearest Pro-European proposition; vote Green in any constituency where they have a chance of winning;  and vote Labour if all else fails, since an effective pro-European coalition – for such it must be – will need as many MPs as possible.

See also Brexit- a colossal waste of time