I used to think that the British Parliament was something quite solid despite the often noisy proceedings and almost animal-like murmurings and growlings, signifying agreement with the fellow Member speaking at the time.
There were occasional verbal fireworks and unruly behaviour, causing the Speaker to bellow “Order, order” but eventually peace and routine returned. I’d never have expected that the Westminster Parliament could descend to the undignified spectacle we have witnessed since the Government presented the programme for Brexit it had negotiated with the European Union.
The majority of the Members rejected the programme but for so many different reasons that the only thing they could agree on was that they didn’t want this deal. The factions stood in their own “bunker” shouting that this was a bad deal and wouldn’t give an inch on their position and advise the Government how they wanted to change the deal to make it acceptable.
The EU has been very patient while the furious debate has been carried out in Westminster, and the world has watched in puzzled amusement the splintering of the myths of the British image. (An appropriately ironic expression here would be “schadenfreude”!)
We in Britain have always mocked our politicians and the political satire has sometimes been very harsh, even insulting.
I used to enjoy watching the satirical television series which often clarified the policies and speeches made by the politicians and the civil servants in such a round-about language that, while you understood the words, you didn’t get the message. In those not so distant days, the politicians still seemed to be solid and purposeful, even when you thought they were completely wrong.
However, the politicians get old, younger candidates take their place and this generation change is now affecting all political spheres. The age structure of the voters also changes and, as the older generations tend to be the most active voters, they may have difficulty in deciding on a candidate because they all seem too inexperienced to understand the complexities of the nation’s affairs.
We should remember that some of the current senior heavyweights were young firebrands once but managed to achieve maturity along the way. It is often said that politics is the art of the possible but, at the moment, very few seem to consider applying it. Having lived here now for seven years, I’m at a loss to know whom to vote for in the coming General Election because I’ve probably never heard of any of the candidates.
My postal voting form may not reach me due to the postal strike, so I’ll have to investigate alternatives. I may not know yet whom to vote for but vote I will if it’s at all possible. In 2016 I voted in favour of staying in the EU but respect the democratic process and accepted the referendum result even though I thought it was achieved by a campaign of misinformation and hatred.
I wonder how many people have since reconsidered their decision in the light of what transpired immediately the result was declared, namely that the No-campaign leaders knew their promises were largely unfounded and couldn’t be fulfilled.
I’m afraid, though, that after these months of “sound and fury signifying nothing” (William Shakespeare), people just want a conclusion and will vote for whomever they think will achieve the separation soonest, never mind the consequences.
It’s unlikely that they want to wait for yet another separation document to be negotiated, debated and voted on. I think it will be a hollow victory for the winners of the election; the nation will still be divided, apprehensive of the future and ready to lay blame.
PAUL DOCKREE
Kolumnin kirjoittaja muutti Lontoosta Ylöjärvelle vuonna 2012.
Author is British, moved from London to Ylöjärvi 2012.
