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Date: 03/11/16
Broke-xit?
There are some interesting points thrown up by today's High Court judgment that the May régime must give Parliament the final say on the removal of this catatonic state from the European Union, and can't just use that nasty, underhanded (and thoroughly British) abuse of power called 'The Royal Prerogative' (which is constitutional legalese for, "We'll do what we like and screw you, plebs!").
The most obvious, of course, is the crashing disjuncture between what the xenophobes, ignoramuses and Falling Empire Loyalists have claimed that they wanted, i.e., 'parliamentary sovereignty', and their high annoyance that any semblence of parliamentary approval should ever be deemed necessary before yanking us away from the demonic influence of all those nasty (non-English-speaking and some of them are even slightly brown, don'tcha know?) foreigners.
Liam Fox (whose return to the Cabinet, and whose presence there alongside such towering talents as David Davis and Boris Johnson at least demonstrates that Mad Tessie has a sense of humour, albeit one so warped that it would be considered too outré even for US cable television); Fox, as I say, professed himself 'disappointed' by the ruling, which is surprising given that it might protect him from even more countries beyond Norway and Australia telling him to sod off and not be so bloody silly when he suggests a trade deal.
A government orifice declared that the régime will appeal to the Supreme Court, with the hearing due early next month. If the Supreme Court sides with the government, what then with all that 'parliamentary sovereignty', eh? The Will Of The Tribunes Of The People (by appointment to Prince Rupert) being trampled on by mere judges?
And if by some quirk of judicial cussedness the Supreme Court upholds the judgment, we may then view with heightened anticipation the sight of a government determined to remove our sweet, virginal isle from the vile attentions of those dastardly alien wolves having to consider going to a European court in order to get its own way. The irony would be delicious, and the contortions involved eye-watering.
Then, supposing the May-pols draw a blank, what? Well, it must be borne in mind that there are in theory substantial majorities in both houses against leaving the EU. If - and I recognise the highly conditional nature of this statement - those MPs and peers who do not have a taste for national self-immolation while wrapped in The Flag ("Rah, rah!") decide to act on their stated principles and vote any such proposal down (and, especially considering that the result of that confounded Referendum is not binding on them, for all the blather to the contrary), what would the isolationists do then? After all, as I pointed out here, everything would have been done The British Way™, under which Parliament is sovereign, not The People, however white they may be or however many newspapers they may own.
Within minutes of the High Court's decision being made public, the oaf Farage was already saying that there would be an uprising, and others of his stamp have already talked about taking to the streets. Supposing they were to do that (leaving aside the inconvenient fact that if The Great British Public won't get the torches and pitchforks out because The Great British Bake-Off has moved to Channel 4, then they won't bother with anything of lesser significance), what would the result be?
Well, one possible outcome would be that they would then be subject to the same powers on the part of the police and 'security' services which they - The GBP - were keen on giving them on the understanding - on their part, at least - that such extensive measures would only ever be used against people that they - The GBP - didn't like.
And then - like the students, trade unionists, peace campaigners and other such un-British subversives before them - they too would be able to savour the delights of Traditional British Policing, and be kettled, truncheoned, dragged away by their clothing, hauled before some ambitious District Judge, stitched up and handed a politicised sentence in order to 'set an example'. The Metropolitan Police have proven in the past that - when minded to - they can be Equal Opportunities Upfitters, as the provisional wing of the Country Landowners' Association found out some years ago.
At which point, these amateur revolutionaries may realise the folly of wishing upon others that which they would never want visited upon them. Or perhaps they'll just blame foreigners.
All in all, we're in for a fascinating few months. Popcorn sales may save the economy after all.
