Everyone, in the UK and on the continent, would do well to acknowledge that Brexit is not so much about the UK’s obviously strained relationship with the rest of Europe than it is about determining the nature and structure of the UK itself.
Given that fundamental truth, the efforts of those among the EU27 who are prepared to kick the Art. 50 procedure yet further down the road are feeding a grand illusion. More specifically, they demonstrate a completely inadequate appreciation of the fundamental nature of the task that lies ahead for Britain.
Far beyond the technical-sounding Irish backstop issue, what is at stake is the very question of the territorial integrity of the UK. Beyond Northern Ireland, the question of respecting Scotland’s unshakable wishes to remain in the EU has also gone unanswered.
It’s about identity, stupid
The entire Brexit debate is really one about British identity – and its amazingly unsorted nature. It will take decades to sort this out, if it ever will be sorted out.
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