Brexit defeatism and a crisis of democracy

WITH a thrilling fly-past over the capital, to roars of appreciation from the crowds, the nation yesterday celebrated the centenary of the RAF, the force that saved the civilised world when Britain stood alone against Nazism after the fall of France in 1940.

This was also the day the last of the 12 Thai schoolboys and their football coach were rescued from their flooded cave, all thanks to the heroism of the modest British divers who found them.

Lifting the nation’s spirits still further, yesterday brought more confirmation of the robust health of the economy – the fifth or sixth biggest in the world (measurements differ) – with official figures recording a phenomenal growth spurt in May.

All this, and England are through to the World Cup semi-final (the best of British to them today!)

Indeed, with so much going for us, this should be a time of unalloyed optimism for our country. So how profoundly depressing it is that we’re represented in Westminster and Whitehall by defeatists who approach Brexit as humble supplicants, begging for crumbs from Jean-Claude Juncker’s table.

In Boris Johnson’s devastating parting words: ‘It is as though we are sending our vanguard into battle with the white flags fluttering above them.’

Meanwhile, the country can only look on in exasperation as ministers fight among themselves instead of fighting Brussels.

Yes, this paper understands the difficulties facing Theresa May since she lost her majority. We respect the way she shepherded the Brexit legislation on to the Statute Book, defeating every attempt at sabotage.

But, frankly, she let herself down badly last week, when she tried to bounce ministers into accepting a negotiating position which – to quote Mr Johnson again – would leave us a ‘colony’ of the EU.

More worrying still, she let down the millions who have become convinced since the referendum that we have to get out from under the EU’s thumb.

Indeed, in a highly significant finding, the British Social Attitudes survey reports a dramatic surge since 2015 in the numbers wanting to leave the EU, while the proportion wanting no change has fallen from 27 per cent to 19 per cent.

As for the 17.4million who voted Leave, no wonder they feel betrayed by the Chequers plan – drawn up by that Europhile zealot Olly Robbins – which would leave us tied to EU regulations and court rulings, while restricting our right to strike trade deals. Weren’t we assured ‘Brexit means Brexit’?

True, the Prime Minister may be safe for now. But with Mr Johnson awaiting his moment, she cannot rely for ever on the forbearance of Brexiteer Tories or her party’s justified terror of handing power to the half-baked Marxist Jeremy Corbyn.

The fact is that we are facing a crisis of democracy – and any further betrayal risks destroying the last vestiges of public faith in our system of government.

This is why it is vital that Mrs May gives full rein to her new Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab – a stout campaigner for Leave, with a strong belief in Britain’s ability to go it alone, if need be. From now on, he must give the orders, and Mr Robbins must take them.

Otherwise, it will be hard to argue with Donald Trump’s assessment that even Vladimir Putin will be easier to deal with than a Britain mired in turmoil. Hugely able, dedicated – and a welcome convert to Brexit – Jeremy Hunt should make a good Foreign Secretary. But this paper laments his move from the Health and Social Care Department, where he had worked so hard to become a master of his complex brief. While wishing his successor well, the Mail cannot help fearing the NHS would have been better left in the hands of a minister who knew it inside out.