That's Brexit Done Then

"Go on, take it, take it all with you, Don't look back at this crumbling fool" Adele

On 31 January I went to bed before 11pm and Big Ben didn't bong. The unctuous gloatings of the Brexiters were not going to raise my ire. I had already witnessed the grotesque last rites of the Brexit Party as they made their unseemly exit from the EU. They were more akin to a gang of football hooligans celebrating a victory gifted by a VAR sending-off.  The respectful coming together that had been promised by the PM in a rare attempt to bring some post-Brexit harmony to the UK was alien to the behaviour traits of his cast of supporters and fellow travellers

The EU vice President, Mairead McGuiness told the UKIP party to leave and take their flags home with them, quite rightly given the rantings of the UKIP leader. She also admonished them for using the word 'hate' in their farewell address. It has been a reassuring feature of the Brexit negotiations that the Irish politicians have shown respect whilst articulating their position with a cogency that has been absent from the assortment of second-rate politicians that have negotiated Brexit for the UK government.

The end of the gravy train for the man with Union Jack

The next morning when collecting my newspaper, something only done at weekends nowadays, the newsagent who had previously expressed his concern at the damage that would be done by Brexit said that it was over, let it go. That's the sort of frozen lyric that young children respond to. I was joined in the shop by a formidable lady who hailed from Northern Ireland, she said that she had applied and gained an Irish passport so that she could continue to enjoy the travel, health insurance and friendships she had formed across Europe. It would give her children and grandchildren the chance to follow her choice of nationality. She was worried that nationality for UK citizens might not be so fluid in the future.

At home, I read that the EU was backing Spain in its claim for the territory presently known as Gibraltar to be restored to Spain. Spain's irredentism claim for Gibraltar has at least as much merit as the UK's claim to Gibraltar as a British overseas territory. I am probably with the EU on this.

In the afternoon I decided to watch the rugby international between France and England, I found myself cheering when France went ahead and then won the game. I have always supported England in the past except when they play Scotland. As we leave the EU, I realise that my progressive patriotism is with Europe and no longer with the UK or at least not with England.