In or Out

Oh! What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive"

The nearer the referendum comes the more it seems like a gigantic diversion from getting things done. Since 2014, the UK government with and without the Lib Dems has been treading water. Austerity isn't working so we'll continue it until 2020, the NHS reforms haven't worked so we'll run up more deficits, companies that run school academies are failing so we'll re tender, renewable energy is making a difference so we'll stop funding it and subsidise nuclear power instead. Too many global companies are evading tax so we'll kick that one into touch and say its a European Union issue. Migration is spiralling upwards as a result of all the low paid, temporary and insecure jobs so we'll stop taking refugees.

The Tory party is in internal strife over Europe so they have chosen to allow the electorate to decide about continued membership of European Union and call it democracy. It is snakes and ladders leadership with a loaded dice. And then in true British style we'll let the press tell us what to do and salivate at the opinions of celebrities. This morning we had a full page advert from those icons of self publicity Richard Branson and David Beckham, who reminds us that he had been paid handsomely to play in Manchester, Madrid, Milan and Paris. They are both remain advocates, unlike Katie Hopkins and Joan Collins who are in the leave camp - if only they would. James Dyson who makes big profits from manufacturing vacuums in Malaysia and Lord Bamford of JCB, who has a record of using tax havens, are also in the leave camp and constantly quoted by Johnson and Gove to imply that business believes we should leave. Meanwhile over a thousand business leaders write to the Times to support remain.

The economy is supposed to be the vital argument but this does not include economy with the truth. The lies, innuendo, scares and corruption of statistics have plumbed new depths. What our politicians, economists, journalists, celebrities, bankers, business leaders and bureaucrats have in common is that no-one trusts them. The tit for tat of fact and fiction has continued throughout the campaign and the electorate are possibly more confused about an issue that is, according to many academics, too complex and uncertain to call. A neighbour was on the side of Brexit until the Jo Cox killing and, as an ex mental health nurse, she blames the failure of community mental health services for the killing. But like many others sees Jo Cox as the patron saint of remain and is therefore inclined to vote remain.

The BBC have been so obsessed with balance that they have inoculated their journalists against having opinions. This has served to confuse and is just as unhelpful the press over egging their owner's prejudices. Together with the remain and leave camps the media and press contributions have not been worth a hill of beans. Oh what a tangled web they weave!

Conversely I have have seen two clips, one serious and one silly, that have captured the imagination. For those with a phobia to Twitter Professor Michael Dougan provides a clear analysis of UKs relationship with the EU. For those who like cold humour John Oliver on Last Week Tonight provides a harsh but funny critique of Brexit. Together they provide a menu that is much more useful than the trivial mutterings from a collective of celebrities and tax evading business leaders.