Brexit Persued by a Blair

Shakespeare used, "Exit persued by a bear," as stage directional code for the death of Antigonus in a Winter's Tale. When Tony Blair's speech to a carefully chosen audience in London about Brexit was reported in the press it became clear that it had backfired spectacularly.

I'm sure that they were hoping that the perusing Blair would signal the end of Brexit. They thought that his charisma and carefully chosen words would have people slapping their foreheads in a resounding thunderclap of understanding, saying, "Silly me, fancy not knowing this, of course we can stop Brexit."

Some of the words made sense. The referendum was held without us having any idea of the details we were voting for. We know what we hoped but neither of us, on either side know exactly what it would mean. We still don't know the details. It is true that the process of Brexit will be an all consuming process for government, putting some of the things that we really care about on the back burner. I worry that there won't be a NHS to give the saved membership fee to if it is completely neglected for the next two (or more) years.

Some of the words, however, appeared patronising. They sounded like a big brother telling his little sister that he knew best because he'd been on the planet twice as long as her and that worms really would be delicious things for lunch. He suggested that all big brothers could ignore their little sisters because brothers always know best.

The timing of the speech seems odd. Why didn't he say these things before we voted? Why not when we have some detail? Waiting for a period of limbo feels like pissing in the wind.

Far from signalling the death of Brexit, pursuit by this particular Blair has strengthened it. What were  his people thinking? Had they forgotten that the public wants him strung up by his testicles for the Iraq war? Had they forgotten that people have had enough of his smarmy face? Had they forgotten that he is blamed for the conditions that caused the Brexit vote: allowing an uncontrolled flow of Eastern European workers to flood the country and causing the Syrian crisis (Iraq war)? Had they forgotten that he's had his time and he's no Churchill?

The only thing that might have been killed by this backstage Blair is any chance of people listening, staying aware and challenging any decisions about leaving the EU that might be wrong or detrimental. Boris Johnsons response was a call to arms, to rise up and turn off the TV any time the Blair tries to kill the Brexit, to stop listening and thinking. I can't imagine anything more terrifying.