No.20 – Brexit - The View from Germany
Dear James,
On Tuesday evening I watched the result of the ‘Meaningful Vote’ debacle in the House of Commons from a hotel in Germany. I was with a group of German business people and I was the 'honorary Brit' who had to translate for them what was happening. I told them that it was a tragedy that our nation had to go through in order to sort out its fundamental internal contradictions. I asked them to bear with us a while longer until the inevitable Second Referendum is decided. Today's letter from a group of German leaders and published in the Times sums up their reaction. Just in case you haven’t seen it I reproduce a part of it below.
“Without your great nation, this continent would not be what it is today: a community defined by freedom and prosperity. After the horrors of the Second World War, Britain did not give up on us. It has welcomed Germany back as a sovereign nation and a European power. This we, as Germans, have not forgotten and we are grateful. Britons should know: from the bottom of our hearts, we want them to stay.”
Meanwhile on Tuesday evening, after your Party's largest defeat in the history of parliament (230 votes), your ERG were celebrating at the house of Mr Rees-Mogg with champagne. Almost simultaneously, Philips was in the process of deciding to close its Avent factory in your own constituency with the potential loss of 450 jobs. I am sure the irony is not lost on you!
Our nation is at a crossroads. Mrs May can decide to save the nation or save your party. She cannot do both.
I trust that you will make the right decision for your country when the moment comes!
Kind regards,
BH - Your Concerned Constituent
PS. I also enclose a link to a song sung by Claudia De Breij, a Dutch lady in English and called the ‘Last Farewell’. It tells of the sadness of losing a very close neighbour. It was very touching. I hope you will be touched!