Brexiteers

When the British people narrowly voted to leave the EU in 2016, they did not give the government a mandate to wreck the British relationship with Europe. When Boris Johnson won the general election in 2019, he was expected to forge workable new arrangements for exporters. UK exports of goods to the EU plunged by over 40% in January, due in large pa... rt to Brexit bureaucracy, incompetence, and delays. The government failed to install necessary border infrastructure and systems. As a result, EU exports enter the UK unchecked. The Brexit deal was never fit for purpose. The UK cannot blame the EU for opting to leave on the most damaging terms possible. NI trading arrangements are falling apart. In response, Johnson breaches the withdrawal agreement. The EU is furious. Relations are now in a destructive downward spiral. This is a question of trust. The British people cannot trust their government to do the right thing. Nor can the rest of the world. Brexit is not working. AR It's a slo-mo nightmare. Hereditary monarchy is always an accident waiting to happen. A wise monarch reduces the risk of accident. The Queen chose to present the monarchy to the world as a royal family. After WW2, Europe's kings and queens were widely regarded as historical detritus. Some retired to the south. Others stuck to their palaces but merely personified nationhood. Most were titular monarchs. The British royal family went for A-list celebrity. This path was risky. The idea was to harness the potency of celebrity to enhance the constitutional status of monarchy. It was a mistake. Hereditary succession makes sense in a democracy only by retaining public support. The British crown wobbles when a monarch steps out of line with public opinion. This leaves the monarchy at the mercy of the media. If and when he becomes king, Charles should dismantle the royal family as an official entity of state. He should guard his son William and tell the rest they are on their own. Her Majesty has now reigned for 69 years, longer than any other monarch in ...Read More