BREXIT : SNP DENIES DEMOCRATIC PROCESS

When the people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, it was to escape the tyranny, bureaucracy and financial incompetence of a bunch of largely unelected and unaccountable officials. Yes, there is a European Parliament, but it is little more than a toothless talking shop that provides unmerited enrichment to its members while being about as representative of its electors as Kim Jong-un is of his. It was clear at the time of the vote that leaving the EU would also mean leaving its assorted anti-competitive and protectionist trading arrangements.

Despite the vote, various parties have continued to try to find ways of obstructing the declared wish of the people and today's news carries yet another story of such anti-democratic activities. It is reported that the Scottish National Party has urged the UK's Labour Party and others opposed to 'Brexit' to gang together in an attempt to keep the UK inside of the EU's 'single market' and 'customs' union'. The SNP's leader at Westminster is reported as saying that "It is time for MPs of all parties to put politics aside", presumably meaning that they should all follow his lead.

However, this statement also suggests something else. It calls on those who remain opposed to  'Brexit'  to defy the expressed will of the people, a highly political and anti-democratic act; the notion that uniting against 'Brexit' is somehow apolitical is ludicrous and has nothing to do with "putting politics aside". Indeed, if the SNP and other parties really want to put politics aside, they should all recognize that the duty of all of our elected representatives is to support the government in its negotiations with the European  Union, rather than doing whatever they can to frustrate matters and weaken the government's hand.

What is needed is a truly united front from all parties. That way, the European Union would know that it has no alternative other than to come to a quick and sensible agreement with the UK and we would be spared months of ridiculous posturing from all sides.