The UK ship of state has become rudderless. There is no one at the helm. The crew are in disarray. Those on the bridge have abandoned the ship!
Europe seems an attractive place by comparison to the unfolding mess in the UK. Much of the arguments prominent in the debates during the Brexit Referendum are now seen to be either flawed or telling only half the story. The notion that the “Leave” people have that the UK will continue to have free access to the common market is delusional. In fact to regain access to the market they will be required to have an open border policy – something the “Leave” side voted to reject.
The trigger for leaving the EU is the invoking of Article 50 which would require to be done by a vote in the House of Commons. How this can be achieved when the vast majority of M P’s wish to remain in the EU is just one of the challenges awaiting the next Prime Minister. Another is the needs of a pro EU Scotland and a Northern Ireland which does not want to reintroduce border controls.
From an Irish perspective the overland trade route to the EU will be cumbered by border checks at entry and exit points. The free flow of goods and services, which we have taken for granted, will be impeded whilst in the offices the paper-work piles up.
To add to the irony of all this we have, this week, joined with the European Nations in commemorating the centenary of the “War to end all Wars”. This idea of a peaceful Europe was one of the foundational planks of the founding fathers of what became the EU. It grew out of the destruction of the 2nd world war and has been largely successful in achieving that aim but not without huge inequalities in wealth and employment currently existing between the nation states.
Jesus said, in a pivotal passage recorded in St Matthew Chapter 16 verses 13 – 23, where St Peter is commended for his insight in recognising Jesus as the Messiah – the Son of God who is alive, unlike the pagan gods whose statues surrounded them in Caesarea Philippi, “I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it”.
Jesus is alive today, unlike the modern gods who have no salvation, and the church prospers by his power. The gates are the strongest part of the city walls but they will not withstand the onward march of the church. Hades is the place of the dead. Jesus is saying that nothing – not even death will overpower the church.
And that ‘nothing’ includes Brexit and its aftermath!