Being positive about Caroline.

I am sure Ms Caroline Lucas, with whom it appears Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg may be debating on television, will be positive and not want to focus on 2nd referendums. I am the eternal optimist. 

However, I’m not so sure she will take that stance given what she said in a speech on 2^nd May 2017.  “Though my party fought hard for Britain to stay in the EU, and I voted against an unconditional triggering of Article 50, we accept, of course, that the referendum was an instruction to the Government to begin Brexit negotiations.  We do not accept, however, that the decision should be irreversible.”   

Which all sounds nice and dandy.  Until the reality sets in.  So, she is quite happy for a small group of people in her constituency of Brighton Pavilion to set about demanding a 2nd vote that would overturn her  win in the General Election  It's absurd.   

Actually, the EU decision is reversible.  If in twenty years’ time people want to re-join the EU, fine, let’s vote again.  But seriously, you can’t keep revisiting votes that have taken place in the past.  

Ms Lucas and other Remainers have two problems.  The first is they can't accept that they lost the argument, and the vote.  The second is they seriously believe that everything about the EU is unquestionable good. Tell that to the farmers in Africa that are kept in abject poverty by the EU.    

You know, if people like Ms Lucas and others like Ms Gina Millar had actually put effort into preparing for the future rather than constantly talking about the negatives, we would perhaps not be where we are today.  All they see is minimising the damage of leaving the EU. Never look at the opportunities.   So I’m sure JRM will insist the conversation is about what we do now were leaving, not looking back and fighting a past battle.   

So little of the debate has been allowed to be on the positives up till now.   This is a chance to make these, without an editor at the BBC closing it down.    

Some of the key points I make when I talk to business leaders leaves them surprised.  They feel they have been misled by all the crashing out terminology once they realise, actually, we won’t be crashing anywhere.  And here is why.   

1. Leaving the EU without a deal with the EU is not leaving without a deal.  It simply is there won’t be a deal with the EU.   Why is that important?  
2. Because there is a deal already in place, one that 60% of UK trade already is conducted under.  Indeed most of world trade is conducted under.  That deal is WTO.   
3. And interestingly, the EU can’t stop us trading with them on WTO terms, from day one.   And for up to 10 years.   

So, where’s the cliff edge?   There isn’t one.    

One point does concern me.   What has the government been doing for 2 ½ years?  They should be totally prepared for leaving under WTO.  What was Ms Rudd doing as Home Secretary for example.  If it turns out that she didn’t do very much, that’s almost criminal.   Indeed, it may be criminal.  

JRM won’t make Ms Lucas look foolish.  He is too much of a gentleman for that.  But he will no doubt make her arguments like chaff in the wind.