The bigots have it

The Prime Minister has now confirmed what many of us suspected. Access to the single market is sacrificed to keep immigration down. Theresa May has made it very clear that immigration has priority over any effect on UK prosperity. There has however been a big development with Trump talking of a free trade deal with the US. This could be a gamechanger for Brexit.

We should be fearful of Trump’s motives. He wants a narrowly nationalistic and racist world and is ready to break up any multi national organisation. The fact this may end up damaging the US doesn’t enter his calculations. He is apparently ready to dump NATO which is the foundation of Western security. Trump is so ready to play Putin’s game we have to wonder if the Russians really do have a hold on him.

We have to be cynical about any free trade agreement as this runs counter to all of Trump’s protectionist talk. Even if it came about it could be a wrenching change for British industry. However in a context of tariff barriers into Europe it might be the only growth prospect around.. Whether British industry could rise to the challenge is difficult to foresee. Certainly business is overwhelmingly deeply worried and fearful. We may well have an even more austere immediate future than that which is already expected but there would be the hope of a recovery

Theresa May is picking a potentially hazardous course for her party. In giving in to the bigots and even racists on the right of the party she risks alienating those more internationalist in outlook. The pretence of the leavers being internationalist in outlook is exposed as a sham. And if Britain is to have any chance it will have to be looking to trade and interact more widely. At least with the US we would have aspects of language and culture in common.

We speak of Britain but it is dubious whether the UK will survive as a union. In both Scotland and Northern Ireland it is becoming difficult to see how a hard Brexit won’t drive them away.

Those of us who believe in tolerance and community in nations can only weep at the prospect of destruction of these values.  We begin to wonder if the supposed adherence to free trade is also a sham. Personally I believe that in the end civilising values will win through despite the hard times now.

Inequality

Much has been made of the suggestion that Brexit and Trump reflect the frustration of those who feel passed over in society. This is not just economic concern but that in some inchoate way the pace of societies change is too great. I feel that isn’t simply the economic decline in some industries and hence in some skills but that society moves too fast for the comfort of some citizens. This isn’t necessarily a matter of education but more of a flexibility in outlook; openness to new ideas.

I feel much of the opposition to plans such as HS2 stem at root from a wish to for things to stay the same. The argument is dressed up in different ways but there is a strong conservative instinct which manifests itself in opposition to any change simply because it is change.

I’ve just been reading a review of lifetime learning. The point is well made that this is likely to divisive. Some people, employers and organisations lend themselves to lifetime learning but some don’t. The example is given of a truck driver. Self driving trucks are predicted by some to eliminate many drivers jobs. Even so how is the solitary driver to make a transition to anything else. He is unlikely to have learnt how to learn, unlikely to get opportunities from employers, unlikely to have the opportunity to practice any newly acquired skill. In short likely to feel trapped and resentful.

There are massive efforts being made but essentially these only apply to those with confidence and support necessary: overwhelmingly those who are already well educated, skilled at learning how to learn and with the right employer.

I don’t have any answer. Clearly the divisions in society are increasing as witnessed by the skew in voting seen in the Brexit referendum. I see any likely outcome as increasing those divisions not lessening them.