“Why’s it taking so long? We should just leave!”

I’m not going to advocate remaining in the European Union in this post[1]: I just want to address one specific thing that emerges from the present omnisuperubercatastroshambles+++, and that is the understandable impatience about Brexit that we hear a lot in vox pops: “Why’s it taking so long? We should just leave!”

‘We should have left on the day after’: Colette Rayner in Hastings. Photograph: Martin Godwin for the Guardian.

Here, through the medium of parable, is the reason why, even though we may well leave the EU, we’re not “just leaving”.

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My MP wrote to me about Brexit: here’s my reply

As noted in the previous post, my MP, Mark Harper, responded to my three recent letters about Brexit. Here is the letter I have sent in reply.

Dear Mark Harper,

I’m writing to thank you for your careful and detailed letter of 3rd December, in response to mine regarding Brexit. I appreciate your having taken time to address my specific points rather than simply sending a form-letter restating Government policy.

A response from my MP on Brexit

It took a long time coming, but now that I have written three times to my MP about Brexit [first one, second one, third one], I have a reply — and I’m pleased to say it’s pretty good, and suggests that he actually read my letter. Enjoy.

Third try: writing to my MP about Brexit

Sigh … Third try …

Dear Mark Harper,

This is the third time in three weeks that I have written to you about Brexit, and I have yet to receive a reply to my first message of three weeks ago or my second of one week ago.

This morning the Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the United Kingdom can decide to remain in the EU. And that we don’t need the consent of the other member states. That puts the decision about our future back into the hands of MPs.

The deal on the table falls far short on what was promised, and leaves us without a proper mandate for Brexit. I urge you to vote against Theresa May’s deal, and to vote to prevent a no-deal Brexit in whatever subsequent votes may occur. We are stronger, more prosperous and more influential inside the EU than outside it.

Yours sincerely,
Dr. Mike Taylor
Oakleigh Farm House, Crooked End, Ruardean, GL17 9XF

If you have a position on Brexit, I urge you also to write to your own MP. The easiest way is using WriteToThem.

Follow-up letter to my MP repeating my request that he back a #PeoplesVote

I just sent this to my MP, Mark Harper, via the WriteToThem web-site. It is a follow-up to my letter of two weeks ago, which has not received a reply.

Dear Mark Harper,

Two weeks ago, I wrote to you about withdrawal agreement negotiated by Theresa May and her team, asking you to vote against the deal. As I have not received a reply, I am writing again.

Letter to my MP asking him to back a #PeoplesVote

I just sent this to my MP, Mark Harper, via the WriteToThem web-site.

Dear Mark Harper,

As I write, the broad outlines of the withdrawal agreement reached between UK and EU negotiators are apparent. Assuming that this agreement survives Cabinet, it will be put to the Commons for a vote. I am writing to urge you to reject the agreement, which bears no relation to anything that we were promised in campaigning before the Brexit referendum.

Just a little late-night snack

I’m working late, so I treated myself to this small plate:

The cheeses:

• Parmesan (Italian)
• Manchego (Spanish)
• Saint Agur (French)
• Wensleydale with cranberries (English)

The meats:

• Parma ham (Italian)
• Chorizo (Spanish)

And of course the wine: Rioja, from Spain.

Please don’t take me out of the Single Market. I like it here.