Another country

Friday 13th. However, not a day of worrying about bad luck about to happen. More a sense of loss at the opportunity to reaffirm the UK’s voting intention to leave the EU.

I remain a remainer. But I do recognise that the die is cast for the UK’s departure next month. I regret that the final decision was not on the basis of a further explicit referendum vote, based on a better understanding (including my own) of the issues and relationship between the UK and the EU. Instead the issue became enmeshed in personality politics and what seemed unrealistic promises of future investment and policy directions. The size of the majority puts the withdrawal beyond doubt. And I accept that even if there had been another referendum, the bruising protracted experience of the past 3 + years might well have resulted in a reinforced vote to leave. Just because people were fed up and want to move on: the “Get Brexit Done” message tapped directly into that.

The loss of opportunity extends to the next critical phase of trade negotiations within the framework of the withdrawal agreement which is more loose that the previous one. Despite the SNP’s clear win in seats and percentage of vote, the actual opportunity to influence the direction of these negotiations and other policies in the Commons will be minimal given the size of the Conservatives’ majority. It will not stop the messaging to the public through the media and ongoing political debate. But the ability to determine actual practical and legislative change will I think be minimal.

Unless of course, there is a move back to consensus politics. And that looks unlikely. The more the Prime Minister states that X and Y is what Britain voted for, with no recognition that Scotland - or indeed Northern Ireland - clearly voted in the opposite direction, the less is the likelihood that consensus will emerge.

Our internal scaffolding came down today and for the first time we could look up at the new cupola. I had not expected the Saltire effect. But I do like it.

I have always been a proud Scot. And proud to be British. But the Britain described by the Prime Minister is now another country.