Please, Can Britain Go Free.

On June 23rd 2016 (23/6/16) Britain held a referendum on whether it wished to Leave or Remain part of the European Union (EU).

This vote was the largest democratic exercise in British political history. 72% of 46.5 million registered voters participated.

It was larger even than the 1975 referendum on joining what would become the EU. There only 64% of 40 million registered voters participated.

The 17.4 million who voted to Leave in 2016 was more than the 17.3 million voters who voted to join the EU in 1975.

Despite the growing population the total number of voters who wanted to be part of the EU actually fell between 1975 and 2016. From 17.3 million to 16.1 million.

At its core the EU has Four Freedoms; The Freedom of Goods, The Freedom of Capital, The Freedom of Services and the Freedom of Labour/Human Capital.

These Four Freedoms are sometimes referred to as the; "Four Pillars of the EU." In reference to the Five Pillars of Islam.

This often intended as a joke. Not at the expense of Islam. At the expense of those who are most deeply committed to the EU.

As the EU has expanded since its inception in the 1950's religious observance has declined all across Europe.

For some membership of the EU has replaced the role of religion within their lives. That all consuming belief that defines them on an existential level. The sense of identity which reassures them that they are the good people. Superior in every way to the bad people.

Just this week I was reading an article about one of these self-described; "Remaniacs." Even Mr Ricks of Bristol compared himself to a Jehovah Witness. A Christian sect famous for knocking people's doors during dinner. Desperate to convert them to the cause.

The Economist article went on to explain these self-described Remaniacs are older, well-off, middle-class and white. People who are not used to being disagreed with. People who are certainly not used to not getting their own way.

It should come as no surprise then that these Remainiacs or Remoaners have absolutely not accepted the result of the public vote. Instead they have fought tooth-and-nail to overturn it, so their sense of identity as the good people is not threatened.

The first salvo in the Remoaners battle was the legal challenge brought by Gina Miller. This challenge covered a number of points of law. However the central argument was that Britain should just ignore the referendum and remain a member of the EU regardless.

Britain's Supreme Court did eventually rule in Ms Miller's favour. On a narrow point of law regarding the use of executive action or Royal Prerogative. As a result Parliament was forced to formally recognise the referendum result and begin the process of Britain leaving the EU.

On February 8th 2017 (8/2/17) the lower house of Parliament, the House of Commons overwhelming voted to recognise the referendum result and begin the process of Britain leaving the EU. The EU (Withdrawal Notification) Act 2017 passed its third reading with 494 votes in favour and 122 against.

On March 7th 2017 (7/3/17) the upper house of Parliament, the House of Lords, also overwhelmingly voted to recognise the referendum result and begin the process of Britain leaving the EU. The EU (Withdrawal Notification) Act 2017 passed its third reading with 340 votes in favour and 90 against.

On March 29th 2017 (29/3/17) Britain notified the EU that it was activating Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. Formally ending Britain's membership of the EU. Subject to a fixed, two year exit negotiation process.

On June 8th 2017 (8/6/17) Britain held a General Election for all 650 seats in the House of Commons. Of those MP's a full 90% - 590 - were elected on a clear mandate to honour the result of the referendum and bring Britain out of the EU.

Over the course of the next 18 months the British government went to work negotiating its exit from the EU. As authorised by the referendum, the EU (Withdrawal Notification) Act 2017 and the result of the 2017 General Election.

This process involved the negotiation of a multi-faceted treaty between 28 nations. Which was always going to be a complicated process.

Despite this the negotiation was swift, organised and professional. It was completed in November 2018, some five months before the deadline of March 2019. A feat practically unheard of amongst people who negotiate international treaties.

The negotiations resulted in the Withdrawal Agreement. Amongst the literate and competent this far exceeded anyone's wildest dreams of what could be achieved. For example it sees the EU give up one of its central Four Freedoms. The Freedom of Labour/Human Capital.

Having been negotiated between the EU and the British government the Withdrawal Agreement was then put to the British Parliament. This allowed the Remainiacs or Remoaners to launch into their second wave of attacks to have the result of the referendum ignored.

The Withdrawal Agreement was supposed to be put before the Commons in December 2017. However that vote was cancelled as it became clear that Remoaner MP's simply would not vote for it.

The Withdrawal Agreement was put before the Commons on January 16th 2019 (16/1/19). There the fears of December 2018 were shown to be true. The Commons defeated the Withdrawal Agreement by 432 votes to 202. Preventing it from progressing to the Lords.

The Withdrawal Agreement was put before the Commons again on March 13th 2019 (13/3/19). Again it was defeated, but by a smaller margin of 391 votes to 242.

The Remoaners campaign to overturn the referendum result by voting against the Withdrawal Agreement has been marked by just the most astonishing of lies.

For example the Remoaners claim that the Withdrawal Agreement doesn't protect worker's rights. When in fact the Withdrawal Agreement sees Britain mirror EU regulations throughout. Including EU regulations protecting worker's rights.

Remoaners also like to claim it would be better for Britain to join the EU's Customs Union. When in fact the Withdrawal Agreement sees Britain enjoy all the benefits of the EU Single Market, something far superior to the EU Customs Union.

One of the major concessions the British government was able to win from the EU was that Britain wouldn't have to join the EU Customs Union. Instead, under the Backstop Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, Britain will enter a slightly improved Customs Union with the EU. One which doesn't require it to make contributions to the EU budget.

Ironically the Remoaners main demand is that a second referendum is held. Because apparently people have been lied to.

Having refused to adopt the Withdrawal Agreement twice the Remoaners forced the British government to seek a delay on leaving the EU. At the EU Council (EUCO) summit on March 22nd 2019 (22/3/19).

There Britain was offered two options. A delay until May 22nd 2019 (22/5/19) on condition the Remoaners adopted the Withdrawal Agreement. Or a delay until April 12th 2019 (12/4/19) if they did not.

The British government failed to even attempt to accept the offer of a delay until May 22nd (22/5/19). Refusing to put the Withdrawal Agreement to the Commons for a third time.

Instead the British government forward a vague promise to adopt the Withdrawal Agreement at some point in the future. Even this was defeated, on March 29th 2019 (29/3/19), by 344 votes to 286.

The Remoaners could have used the period leading up to April 12th 2019 (12/4/19) to work through the Indicative Votes process.

Using it to talk through their issues with the Withdrawal Agreement. Familiarising themselves with the subject matter and resolving their clear wont of understanding.

However the Remoaners refused to even engage with this. Instead using April 2nd 2019 (2/4/19) to launch a coup d'etat. Suspending the British Constitution in an effort to pass off the so-called "Cooper Proposition" as an Act of Parliament with legal force.

Today, April 10th 2019 (10/4/19) an emergency EUCO summit will be held. Dealing  exclusively with Britain's failure to adopt the Withdrawal Agreement.

There these Remoaners or Remaniacs will seek their reward for voting against the Withdrawal Agreement. A further delay on Britain leaving the EU.

So, as a British citizen, I know that it is highly embarrassing that the EU had to basically write this extremely generous Withdrawal Agreement for Britain.

It is even more embarrassing that the EU must now force Britain to accept this Withdrawal Agreement.

But please,

Just let Britain go free. 



01:30 I'm 10/4/19 (UK date).