IT will be lonely this Christmas – for the UK Government. If there is anyone left by then of course. The rumour mill is in full swing after Jo Johnson’s high-profile resignation last week and his call for a second referendum in the face of “vassalage” under Theresa May’s Chequers proposals, or the “chaos” of a no-deal Brexit.
And he is not alone. Other Remain-supporting ministers are supposed to be considering their position. This leaves the current plan in a very precarious place, with the anti-EU wolves in the DUP and ERG circling if it makes it back to Parliament. The only person that seems fully behind May’s Brexit plan is the PM herself.
READ MORE: May dealt fresh Brexit blow as Johnson resigns and Foster threatens
It would seem that Brexit still means Brexit, whatever that means. But people are waking up to the reality of what actually lies ahead in deal or no-deal land. Outside Westminster, in the real world, the Tories are currently haemorrhaging support from even the party faithful, alienating the voters they’ve counted on all these years for their unwavering commitment.
For starters, businesses are not happy. A new campaign group, Business for a People’s Vote, was launched last week. Headed by major figures such as former Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King and former Marks and Spencer chairman Lord Myners, along with more than 70 other influential signatories, the group has called for a second referendum on the final Brexit deal.
They have voiced their concern over the economic harm that will be caused by “either a blindfold or destructive Brexit”, and believe that the ultimate choice should be handed back to the public.
The response to this from Downing Street was an emphatic “no”. In the face of potential job losses and closures of epic proportions, the UK Government seems not to care nor able to accept the truth.
We already know what Boris Johnson thinks about business, with his use of a four-letter expletive when asked about his hard Brexit plans earlier in the summer. Johnson may not be a Cabinet member anymore, but this does not take away from his major role in the damaging and down-right misleading mythology which accompanies Brexit.
READ MORE: 70 business leaders back People's Vote
And it’s not just UK business leaders who are unimpressed with Johnson and the Brexiteers’ gung-ho attitude. Just this week, the UK boss of one of Germany’s industrial giants, ThryssenKrupp, warned of the threat posed by the Tory pursuit of party ideology and unity over business and public interest, describing Brexit as “an act of complete folly”. Chairman and CEO, Terry Sargent, is a lifelong Conservative supporter, but now says he will not vote for the party again given their utter failure to protect businesses and jobs.
As for the fishing industry in Scotland, the Tories can kiss goodbye to their votes in the future. As far as the fishing community is concerned they have been sold out by the UK Government, who promised to protect Scottish waters in a post-Brexit Britain, but have now arranged for EU fishing fleets to have access to UK fishing waters in exchange for a UK-wide deal with Europe. It’s not the fish that are slippery, it’s Theresa May.
READ MORE: Tories prepare to sell out Scotland's fisherman in EU Brexit deal
I wonder what David Mundell, our quiet little Secretary in a State for Scotland will say in defence of his leader’s manoeuvres? Not much if he can get away with it, but the Scottish Conservatives in the North East might as well start packing up their offices in preparation for the next election.
It’s the DUP that are bursting their usual blood vessel over this issue. DUP MP Sammy Wilson, pictured above, has been getting very hot under the collar about any sort of customs union with the EU and access to fishing waters. Along with Arlene Foster, Wilson is stuck in a loop, repeating “no regulatory divergence” over and over again. But it would seem that No. 10 isn’t listening any more.
Next on the unfriending list are the farmers, who are up in arms about their poor treatment at the hands of a government that’s always protected their rural support. A recent article in The Scottish Farmer newspaper reported unrest amongst the Tory party’s long-standing allies, the landowners, with high profile landowner, Adrian Hill, of Woodside Farm in Brougham, criticising the Government’s plans, and those of “green Brexit” Gove in particular.
READ MORE: Farming industry is a pawn in the Brexit game – and could be sacrificed
Hill argues that this so-called green farming plan is just a cover for right-wing Brextremist policies that are destructive to Scottish farmers, who desperately want to keep access open to EU markets. This former Tory party donor has now “locked away” his wallet as well as his support for a party hell-bent on destroying his business. Another one bites the dust.
As the Conservative Christmas party guest list dwindles, they must wonder where it all went wrong. Perhaps David Cameron could provide some insight?
He’s staying very quiet while the People’s Vote builds momentum. The least he could do is campaign voraciously for Remain a second time around after his half-hearted attempt back in 2016. After all, it was all his idea in the first place. Well, with a little help from Farage and UKIP. Maybe it’s time for the former PM to grow a backbone, fess up to his mistake, and make a public apology, he’s got nothing to lose that he hasn’t lost already.
Now that’s a Christmas message I’d like to hear.
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