Brexit conundrum hangs over ‘silly season’

LONDON:The “silly season” is officially on, with most newsmakers in Britain off on holiday, including Prime Minister Theresa May, who is in Switzerland. The tabloids are struggling to make news, but that has not prevented ministers contradicting each other on Brexit.

Silly season is the time when the big mouths are away from Westminster and when funny, quirky stories are passed off as news. Tabloids go to town with stories such as an egg being fried on pavement on a hot day, Jesus appearing on a toast, a cow falling from cliff-top into a caravan.

In London, top cabinet ministers Philip Hammond, Liam Fox and others have been commenting and contradicting each other on Brexit, with no one the wiser on the real position.

The figure of £36 billion was mentioned as a Brexit “divorce bill” the UK would need to pay, but it was promptly shot down by Downing Street. By now everyone knows that no one knows how exactly Brexit will pan out, if it does at all.

But politics can’t be far behind even on holidays. Michael Gove, once aspirant an aspirant for 10, Downing Street and now a member in May’s cabinet, and former chancellor George Osborne were reported attending a rather appropriate drama of twists of power and betrayal — Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle in Bayreuth, Germany.

This time last year, May reminded many of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher by selecting Switzerland for her holiday — one of Thatcher’s favourite destinations.