Even allowing for the arrogance and cynicism of the Conservative Party under Theresa May, today’s announcement of a second general election in as many years reveals a utter lack of regard for the national interest and leaves her government stripped of the union jack camouflage they wrap themselves in by instinct.
This election is not motivated by respect for the nation or democracy, but represents an opportunistic power grab seeded in a deep-seated sense of elite privilege and entitlement.
May and her team are gambling that their poll lead gifted to them by Labour’s infighting and an utterly toxic corporate media will translate into a crushing general election victory and to hell with the consequences.
This snap election treats the nation and the intelligence of the electorate with contempt in so many ways:
( a ) Its not hard to see that May wants the Brexit process to be free of any meaningful scrutiny by Parliament in general and her own pro-remain MP’s in particular – she wants a mandate to be free of the bothersome process of democracy itself.
( b ) Its also child’s play to see that all at Whitehall and Westminster know that the fall out from Brexit is going to very serious indeed – May doesn’t want to be fighting an election in 2020 on her record in handling Brexit, just all manner of cold hard realities start to hit home, better to grab power now in the delusional glow of triumphalism that has comforted the Brexit camp thus far.
( c ) This election – now – makes a referendum on a united Ireland more likely and a rushed second Scottish Independence Referendum a stone cold certainty, so much for the stability and unity that May’s government is supposed to represent.
( d ) This election will now turn into nothing more than a second referendum on Brexit – a horribly divisive dynamic that will side-line a myriad of more important issues that the UK should be focusing on – not least the onrush of potentially cataclysmic climate damage and how to deal with the increasingly dangerous military follies of the Trump administration.
If May gets the mandate she seeks, we can expect a bonfire to be made of any and all legislation that restrains capitalism from degrading the environment, cheating consumers and exploiting the workforce.
One can only hope she has miscalculated – that her decision will unite the opposition to Brexit (which crosses British political tribal loyalties) and save the UK from a political abyss.
Now that we know May’s intention to remove us from the Single Market and the Customs Union, thereby doing tremendous damage to our economy, I hope Labour MPs are pressing Jeremy to announce that if Labour wins, he will give the the country another chance via a referendum to see if they like the new prospects. If May can announce a GE so soon after the previous one, Jeremy can certainly offer another referendum.
This time however he should also announce that he will widen the franchise and make the new referendum much more democratic by giving young people over sixteen and EU citizens who live here the chance to vote. I’m sure this will be a vote winner and also take the wind out of the sales of the Lib Dems.
By the way have you noticed that none of the media are commenting on the fact that the Tories may lose some seats shortly and part of their majority because of their election fraud!