“War is peace … Freedom is slavery … Ignorance is strength. Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them”. All of this has been understood by the presence now driving the UK’s Brexit discussions with the EU, and driving them inexorably towards the cliff of No Deal. That individual, moreover, is not the Prime Minister. It is Dominic Cummings.
The real power at 10 Downing Street ...
It is Cummings who effectively dictated the letter that our alleged Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson has sent to European Council President Donald Tusk. The letter that contains the ultimate Doublethink. The Doublethink that asserts that a device devised by a democratically elected Government, and signed off by its Prime Minister and cabinet, is undemocratic. Worse, that device is now anti-democratic.
... his patsy ...
The Johnson and Cummings Doublespeak holds that this device - the so-called Irish backstop - will threaten the Good Friday Accords, even though it has been devised to protect the Good Friday Accords. That which Orwell laid out in his dystopian vision of the future has become reality. But it is reality only in the mind of Cummings, who is now, frighteningly but decisively, running a negotiation which will not take place.
... the recently dictated letter ...
This is known by anyone who has watched the UK’s Government fail utterly to grasp the reality of its position. Who has watched as the Press and Pundit Establishment attempt to reimagine that reality. The reimagining continues today, as the Murdoch Times tells readers “Johnson gives EU his Brexit demands”. He is in no position to demand anything from the EU. But to admit that reality would mean accepting it.
... the resulting propaganda ...
The increasingly desperate and downmarket Telegraph claims “Johnson tears up backstop in talks push”, yet he cannot “tear up” anything. Moreover, there will be no talks until the backstop is either accepted, or satisfactory alternative arrangements are put in place.
... in all its delusion ...
The demands in Johnson’s letter have already been rejected by Dublin, as Sebastian Payne of the FT has told: “Dublin rejects Boris Johnson’s letter … ‘Unfortunately this letter does not set out what the so called 'alternative arrangements' could or would be. Unless and until there are viable alternatives the need for the backstop insurance policy is clear,’ said a senior govt figure”. The demands will be rejected by the EU in turn.
... and the chill wind of reality ...
Peter Foster - the Telegraph’s Europe Editor - asks “So what does this letter really tell us? That the U.K. is not serious about a renegotiation here. Indeed all the strategy is - led by Cummings himself - about how to lead a sham negotiation, per three sources privy to the chat”. Negotiation is not negotiation. Seriousness is not serious.
... as the whole thing unravels
The detachment from reality has been shown by the perpetually thirty Paul Staines and his rabble at the Guido Fawkes blog, who have clearly been passed details of Cummings’ thinking. And it makes frightening reading: “it remains the UK’s intention to deliver a deal that can pass through Parliament … Stephen Barclay’s DExEU is laying the groundwork for negotiations to reopen in four weeks’ time. The Government is not expecting the EU’s united front to crack until they see Remainer attempts to thwart the UK leaving on 31st October fail at the beginning of September”. A crack that won’t appear. Sheer delusion.
It’s not really Nineteen Eighty-Four, though. That was fiction. This is the grim reality.
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6 comments:
The "Backstop"......Isn't there a strategic weakness here? If Brexit no-deal goes ahead isn't it the Irish government who would have to implement a hard border? Thus "absolving" the Cummings-Bozo gang from its inevitable consequences?
The alleged British government's attitude to the backstop reminds me of the child who's been repeatedly told it cannot have any sweeties.
What part of no don't ministers - some of whom have had the best education money can buy - understand?
As ever, intelligent EU negotiators dont vote in UK general elections. Easily riled brits do.
@Anon Our tame press will certainly make that claim but the majority of the world will look at the UK's government and see a bunch of petulant and inept children who tore up treaties without care for the consequences. After all it was the UK who set the Brexit ball rolling despite being warned what the consequences would be.
If these fools say 'technology is the answer', the EU should say 'show us the working system you have then. Now.'
@Anonymous 18.19,
And here you see the public school mentality in all its glory. No need to know how it works, that's somebody else's problem.
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