The politics of Brexit and the wider political discourse to my mind has become poisoned by the dominance of extreme views. Painfully little room has been seemingly left for compromise. Hard line factions seeking TOTAL victory without for one moment reflecting on the potential consequences.
Not heeding any warning to be careful what you wish for.
Total victory for hard liners is of no value. It merely intensifies rancour, bitterness and nastiness and division already in existence for all our futures. The art of balance and compromise seems a painfully long way away.
With specific regard to the events in the Commons yesterday my primary thought was actually what a waste of parliamentary time it all was.
Nothing of any fundamental value was achieved.
It was an intensified, low grade slanging match with both sides blaming each other for the situation in play. It wasn't just the febrile atmosphere and appalling tone and language used. It was a shocking waste of parliamentary time that had been fought so hard to obtain through the courts.
The government has not come up with any meaningful proposals for a deal.
So Boris needs to intensify efforts to get a deal by approximately 100%
.
If opposition MPs are of the view insufficient efforts are being made on this front then those on the non government benches need to assert control of parliamentary proceedings to precipitate a mass series of extended indicative votes on various proposals that can lead to cross parliament agreement on a deal to exit the EU.
Over as many hours and days and with as many tweaks and amendments as required.
Just blocking Boris in every vote is one thing but it does little to break the fundamental deadlock.
The point is here that we need a deal.
No deal will polarize for years to come.
Remain will do the same.
A general election risks a hung parliament with an influx of hard right and hard left voices not willing to compromise on any policy area.
A peoples vote runs the risk of an inconclusive outcome overall. And even if the principle of such a vote is agreed there will, no doubt be a furious row as to what options appear on the ballot paper. Staunch Remainers will insist that Remain is one of the options while No Deal is not.
Staunch Brexiteers will insist on the exact polar opposite.
Where is the balance?
Where is the compromise?
Where is the sense?
The compromise is to exit the EU WITH a deal that protects jobs, business, industries, livelihoods, welfare, the environment, trade and employees.
That would be the closest thing to a victory for everyone.