Better bonkers than boring as Robert says, I think, comfortingly.
Better a polemicist than a pedestrian pottering along the dull, cracked, chewing gum stained, pavement of politically correct opinion; so it is especially pleasing when a sensible reader, step forward Brian Walsh, writes a thoughtful rebuttal to a recent post – thank you. This is a prelude to another polemic.
A century ago a Boundary Commission controversially established a wiggly line separating what is now the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In 2014 there was a Scottish independence referendum. Result: home team lost 45-55. The men and women of Harlech show little appetite for independence. My point; there is flexibility within the United Kingdom political system to allow direct choices by the electorate on issues considered important. If there are referenda in the Falklands and/or Gibraltar I will be front of the queue to go as an observer but they will not happen because there is no appetite for secession in those territories.
Now, look east. There are large populations of Russian speakers who identify as Russians in FSU countries. Georgia and Ukraine; both have Russian enclaves and these could be enshrined as independent territories. The Baltic States do not have a big enough Russian diaspora so Russia should abandon its ambitions in that theatre. We have referenda, why don’t governments hold them in these contended territories? Is it because the Russians would win? They have, + Moldova, already seen sovereign territory annexed by Russian military force. There is concern that Russian controlled enclaves could go from being a toehold to a foothold and threaten the sovereignty of these countries. It would certainly strengthen the Russian bloc. On the other hand inflexibility may become a casus belli. Allowing referenda might be tantamount to appeasement – a reminder of 1938. Although history does repeat itself I’m inclined to give Russia some rope and hope for the best.
My modest proposal seems democratic; a system of government lacking in the Middle East, China and a few African countries. Oh, I nearly forgot, in the Middle East, the UK and EU make out like bandits selling weapons systems and China is too important a trading partner to offend. However, as every British potato farmer knows how to turn spuds into vodka, Russia can be demonised – to distract us from local issues, M Macron and Mr Johnson? Don’t think we need Russian gas – think Russia needs European money.
What you may need is a UK badge to drive in the EU – GB is verboten, interdit, proibito, toirmiscthe ….