Phoney Brexit war

THE pundits in the UK mainstream media are waxing eloquent about schism in the two former Better Together parties, Tory and Labour.

At present, the inner turmoil at the Tory conference over Brexit is being seen by some as a schism- in- waiting. Theresa May laughs it off as not wanting a Cabinet of “yes men” and pop-up Ruth Davidson at the Tory conference simply tells delegates to “man up”, whatever that means.

Labour’s fudge on Brexit was less vociferous, but it was there and north of the Tweed the branch is in open internecine turmoil during the process to choose a new branch manager, contradicting the claim by Jeremy Corbyn that they are united.

Yet looking wider, one may in reality be witnessing the beginning of the end of the British state in its present ramshackle set up.

The British parties are not primarily at odds with each other over domestic policy but over measure so nb rex it which are critical for the future existence of the Westminster-centric state.

Even Ruth Davidson, vacillating between Westminster and Holyrood, has called for the end of London “dominance”, but does not actually spell out the detail other than to say it needs to happen to preserve the Union now under threat from even Jeremy Corbyn. Confusion all round!

At some point the imprecise detail in No 10’s Brexit points regarding the three exit issues needs to be firmed up, together with the outlines of the proposed new deal, bespoke or otherwise.

That will either make or break the phoney war within the main UK parties as the EU will then determine the outcome and the future parameters of the UK and its position vis-a-vis the Continent and the wider world.

The current turmoil will be viewed retrospectively as insignificant compared to the upheaval which will erupt.

JOHN EDGAR Merrygreen Place, Stewarton