Brexit - Confused? So Am I!

Yesterday four former Conservative cabinet ministers urged Theresa May and her government to walk away from EU negotiations, without a trade deal. Nigel Lawson, John Redwood, Peter Lilley and Owen Paterson, signed a letter expressing their controversial opinion, as talks between the UK and EU reached deadlock, a word used all too often to describe Britain's exit negotiations from the EU.

​I am like most people, confused about this whole Brexit process. Misinformation or 'fake news',  the popular phrase of the day; is becoming all too familiar. Whether one picks up a newspaper, or takes a look on the internet, the different views, stories and in many cases damn right lies are not only starting to become  tiresome, but also dangerous, as negotiations reach an important juncture. I was listening to an EU politician the other day, on the radio, a German Member of the European Parliament and was shocked at his scathing attack on the British establishment, because of an article written in the Daily Mail, as if this tabloid newspaper was the mouth piece of Theresa May! We are understanding less and less about the exit strategy, nearly a year after article 50 was triggered; that is a terrible indictment on a Government, who should have got to grips with its future direction and negotiating stance. If one is to believe the news, Theresa May is heading towards oblivion, her ship rudderless in stormy EU seas. I, like you have no idea, if this is a misrepresentation or akin to the truth.

As an Expat living in Spain, it is important for me and the community in which I live, to receive regular important updates, about our standing in Europe. The only information I have access to, is either internet based, take it with a pinch of salt, fact of fiction, or the daily newspapers in my local Spanish Tobacconist. I have to prepare for any eventuality, just like those EU citizens living in the UK. Although my life is here, I am conscious that may not last forever, especially as both sides of these intense negotiations use us and our vulnerabilities as a cause for eventual settlement. I understand the difficulties and challenges involved in Brexit, but what I can't comprehend  is the 'fake news' that propagates day after day. Expats are anxious enough, without scaremongering from all sections of the British and it has to be said European press.

It's easy for a newspaper to write a story about Brexit, when it has no real information. In such circumstances, all sides of the argument should be published. Instead the slightest hint of a stumbling block yet to be overcome, is blown out of all proportion from a media, desperate for truth and legitimate data. When one has no firm facts and figures, one can come to ones own conclusions, based on the most dubious of material. In all honesty I don't blame the hungry press for the words they write, they can only use what details they have, even if the are sketchy, patchy and unsubstantiated. Hearsay, opinion and conjecture are being used, where there is nothing to replace it.

The government is of course exacerbating this very real problem. Rogue Members of Parliament are taking to their soap boxes preaching their own Brexit agenda, writing open letters, criticising Europe, during a time where prudence is a must, openly preparing for life after May. Infighting is causing real trouble for the Prime minister. In order to put a lid on rumour and speculation, one must start furnishing the British and European public with the truth. Theresa remains tight lipped because in reality she has nothing to say, nothing to reassure us about and a fractious party to keep together. It does feel at times, that her own survival is her most important priority. When one of her members of cabinet steps out of line, she is almost unable to challenge them, for fear of a leadership contest that could happen at anytime.

Britain is in a perilous position. We do not have a strong negotiating hand; the EU hold all the cards and remain resolute in punishing the UK, for its democratic decision to leave, its so called family of nations. It is therefore natural for Britain's government to react cautiously, make little or no information public and ignore rather than quash the myriad of disinformation, This was fine in the short term, but as the UK reaches the mid point of its dialogue with Europe, it needs to start being proactive, apprising the public and dispelling untruths. If a rebellious MP steps out of line, they should be dealt with immediately, so their mutterings don't rumble on. Finally kidology and deception in the press is a real problem, especially when like me, you live far away from the fray. Lets keep talking and chatting in the bars and squares of Europe, expressing our views firmly but lets wake up to the reality, that what we hear, see and read may not be what is actually happening. Politicians like newspaper editors have their own agenda, until there is finally cohesion in facts, we need to discount the propaganda from all sides of the argument and finally get a good nights sleep!

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