UK government heading for disaster over Brexit

I AM a frequent visitor to the Republic of Ireland and, during my visits, I buy the Irish Independent. The reporting of the political situation in the UK is very interesting and in this regard I feel that I have to write to you. It is primarily prompted by the imminence of leaving the EU and the ever-increasing evidence of the disaster for the populations of both the Republic of Ireland and the UK, that this event will presage. In the UK, we are constantly told a majority voted for Brexit, but approximately only a third of those entitled to vote in the referendum voted to leave. The rest either did not vote or voted to remain. Similarly, we have a government that only had a minority of the votes cast in the last general election and, since it hasn’t got enough MPs, cannot form a government without relying on other parties for support. However, it still claims a mandate. It is worrying that a referendum on the results of the Brexit negotiations is currently being denied by the UK government. How can this be democratic? A recent report in the Irish Independent made reference to a document ‘Who Governs Britain in a Digital Age’. This reported disillusionment with politicians in the UK and one of the recommendations was to use social media more. This shows how out of touch the writers of the report are. A reason for not voting is “what is the point?” The reasons include those mentioned above. The ruling elite doesn’t listen to anyone outside its own circle (private schools/Oxbridge and the ‘City’). Following on from that, it would appear it doesn’t care. The list is almost endless from rural broadband to lack of police, availability of ambulances – nothing improves. The previous prime minister called for the Brexit referendum and has left the mess behind. In the event of a no-deal Brexit, we are told there will be a stockpile of food and medicines (the estimated time for the stockpile being the subject of debate). In addition to these issues, there is so much more to worry about. Comments like this indicate the UK government is out of touch and/or assumes the UK population is completely gullible. Recently, the UK government published some of the no-deal Brexit advice documents. It has taken more than two years to come up with this incomplete package and it only indicates a lack of ideas. The comments regarding trading across the land Border on the island of Ireland is only one example of the lack of any idea of a solution – and, more worryingly, apparent lack of concern. We are told the UK will enter into trading arrangements with other countries post-Brexit, but there are no details of how, the time frames involved, or if such arrangements will replace or surpass the single market trade the country currently enjoys. There must be a limit as to what beneficial, wealthgenerating deals can be done with the UK economy so reliant on the service sector. I have noticed the Irish Independent reports more Brexit topics than appear to be available in the UK media. It is to be hoped this will continue, to present the difficulties the UK and the Republic of Ireland will face if the UK government continues on its apparent present and disastrous policy of leaving the EU under any circumstance. Martin Slade Address with editor