Assuming this madness from the White House continues I think we are likely to see a few more prominent people putting their heads above the parapet in the relatively near future about a second referendum.
I think this country is likely to be faced with an existential choice between the US and Europe in the not too distant future, and rejoining the EU will be part of that debate. Difficult to see how it won’t.
I think recent events and direction of travel mean that many of the barriers to re entry at the EU’s end might disappear in a way that was unimaginable even 18 months ago, especially given our military capability. I think that would be the clincher, and ways would be found round vetos from the likes of Hungary. Needs must.
Any argument that the dynamics and metrics haven’t overwhelmingly changed in the last twelve months, never mind since 2016, isn’t sustainable. In fact I would say in many ways they have changed more than they did in the last ten years than they did between 1975 and 2016. Certainly more than between 1975 and 1992 (despite the Berlin Wall coming down in that period) when the Maastricht treaty was signed and anti EU sentiment started to gather momentum in this country, and numerous voices were calling for us to leave the EU, contrary to the referendum vote in 1975.
I think, sadly, this issue is going to divide this country further, especially at a generational level. Think some people, understandably, will be incensed at the mere suggestion of this, but I do think it’s likely we need to pick a side, given where we find ourselves. Talk of Trump leaving power in a few years, and this being a blip isn’t operating in the realms of reality.
I think the the young, where anti US sentiment is strongest I’d say, are likely to mobilise on this issue.
I don’t doubt many voters will pick the US, btw, but either way it will be hugely divisive. How could it not be?
