Countdown to Brexit: the future is bright

One year to Brexit. Theresa May yesterday travelled to the four corners of the United Kingdom to sell the idea to a divided nation; and the BBC devoted an entire day of its news schedule to starting the countdown. Finally, some 21 months after the momentous referendum result, leaving the EU is becoming a reality, even if many aspects of our future relationship remain to be settled.

The political debate has been essentially introspective. So close was the vote to leave that the delay has arguably been a necessary hiatus to let those who voted Remain come to terms with the prospect, as many now have. Those who still wish to reverse Brexit, like Tony Blair, seek to give the impression that Britain outside the EU will be isolated. Even though Parliament has voted to endorse the decision, they cleave to the hope that it might yet change its mind. But it won’t because it can’t. After asking the country to decide the issue, MPS and peers have no choice but to see the consequences of the vote through to the end.

Those like Mr Blair, who continue to carp from the sidelines about how bad it will all be, are doing their country a disservice. Indeed, it often falls to outsiders looking in to see matters in perspective. In his valedictory speech as Australia’s High Commissioner to London, Alexander Downer gave a far more upbeat assessment of the UK’S long-term prospects than we ever hear from British politicians, who seem unable or unwilling to reconcile themselves to Brexit. Mr Downer said the UK projected more “soft power” through its arts, education, political institutions and legal system than any other country in the world and would continue to do so. The High Commissioner recognised there was a problem with integrating some ethnic minorities into the mainstream culture; and yet, this is a far more tolerant country than we give ourselves credit for being.

Mr Downer said politicians obsess with the divisive ideologies of identity rather than focus on the unifying concept of nationhood. On Brexit, he said Britain should be more self-confident about the trade deals available but had to leave the customs union if it was to make the most of the global opportunities that would open up. “I am surprised that there is any debate at all about [this],” he said at the Policy Exchange think-tank on Wednesday night. These are wise words from a friend of Britain. We should heed them.