Americans should be wary of revelling in Brexit chaos
IT IS hard to pinpoint the exact moment British politics became officially more absurd than America’s.
Despite Donald Trump’s best efforts to create the world’s most incompetent civilised government, Brexit has seen the UK steal his thunder.
The US leader continues to reduce America to a laughing stock, but our stateside cousins are taking comfort from the national disgrace that is Westminister.
Americans take tremendous solace they are governed by just one fool instead of 650 like Britain.
For while Trump is the most duplicitous man ever to lead the States, this week they could look across the Atlantic to see the most duplicitous Parliament in history.
Presented with Boris Johnson’s deal, MPs yet again, rode roughshod over the will of people, with many defying their constituents to delay Brexit further.
They continue– as former Prime Minister Theresa May pointedly told them – to be party to the “most egregious con trick” on voters.
The stunning betrayal of the referendum has made enjoyable viewing for Americans, who see Brexit as an escape from the madness of their own politics.
Images of speaker John Bercow shouting “order, order” as Parliament struggles to come to any agreement are thoroughly entertaining on CNN and make them feel better about their own political problems.
With Boris Johnson’s rise as the lead character, in what may be the closing scene of this tragedy, his behaviour has seen the States grow increasingly transfixed by his international game of chicken with the European Union.
As much as it has increased Americans’ interest in UK politics, it has also clouded their real interest in the two countries’ ‘special relationship’.
For, while how Britain works (or doesn’t) is growing more and more entertaining, many have lost sight of the fact what the UK departure from the EU means for the States.
Brexit doesn’t present the dangers to Americans it does to Britons and Europeans but it does pose risks and would leave America worse off.
No longer will the UK hold the same seat in the EU that America has used to further its own interests amongst the bloc state.
With Brexit, those dynamics are certainly going to change.
Europe is losing the largest, English-speaking EU member and also the most prominent advocate
for trade and alliances with non-EU nations.
Some smaller European countries are also losing a powerful ally in the UK and a consistent vote in the European Parliament for
deregulation and greater freedom of trade.
The stability – or instability – of the UK means much more to the States than most Americans understand. If Britain slips into irrelevance, America will lose a vital foothold in Europe and beyond.
Although the US may be a spectator with little ability to affect domestic decisions in the UK, it still has a tremendous national interest at stake.
Indeed, many in Washington and those Americans living in Britain feel they are watching a tragedy unfold, as a critical player in the post-war era appears to be writing itself out of that role.
Ultimately, it could spell the demise, or at the very least inflict damage, on the special relationship as it is built so much on military co-operation, intelligence and power. The cracks are already evident as Trump plays hardball over any future trade deal Britain will have with the States.
Between the idiot in the Oval Office and those in Parliament, the one good thing to come out of all of these uncertain times is the renewed interest people have in politics.
Those who have created the mess will undoubtedly live to rue the day democracy was betrayed on both sides of the Atlantic.
For the one thing that does unite Britain and the States is that in the not too distant future, both countries will have the chance to throw out these cynical, dishonest, game-playing charlatans.
It is a moment that cannot come soon enough.