As I arrived at a bleak Parliament on a dark Tuesday morning I could not help but think that today was not going to be UKIP’s day. As you arrived out of Westminster tube station you could only see an army of blue and yellow flags held by bemused people reminiscent of unruly sheep. On my way out of the station I’m sure one baa’d at me – turns out she was just in favour of a people’s vote. I placed my UKIP rosette on my jacket and was ready to take on the remoaners.
As you walked up the road past the statue of Oliver Cromwell you could hear the bellowing of “out means out” and “Brexit now”. Finally, Brexiters are out in force. You see the usual faces representing different groups: UKIP, Leave Means Leave, Unity UK and even Green Leaves, the Brexit wing of the Green Party. Everyone is all smiles and approachable despite the raining conditions, united for one common cause. I heard a familiar voice, a branch member of mine from Barnet UKIP, arguing with a woman wearing a very unappealing pro-EU beret. He claimed “a people’s vote would comprise democracy in the country”. In response she shrugged and turned away, hitting us with her flag as she did so. I think this action sums up their cause perfectly, if I was on the losing side I’m sure I wouldn’t be too keen for a debate.
As the day wore on and the hail started pouring, Brexiters started leaving but a large amount of UKIP remained opposite Parliament, where most of the mainstream media were conducting interviews. Occasionally, you see a variety of MP’s walking past, most Ukippers take the opportunity to shout whatever point they want convey. Today we had the pleasant surprise of Nigel Evans, who valiantly gave a speech to the Commons a few weeks earlier in support of the 17.4m leave voters. In contrast, we also had the displeasure of Ben Bradshaw’s hurried scuttle, the remain Labour MP for Exeter. One prominent UKIP member shouted, “Think of the implications of betraying the British People”. It was safe to say Ben was not as accommodating.
During the mid-afternoon the clouds started disappearing and the sky turned a deep shade of blue, the day looked like it was going to change for the better. The mood shifted when we received information that the ERG and DUP were not planning to vote for the deal after all, thanks to the legal advice of Geoffrey Cox. Verses of “bye bye EU, bye bye” rung out almost in celebration. UKIP’s deputy leader Mike Hookam arrived outside Parliament and chatted with UKIP members/Brexiters alike. Mike is very accommodating when speaking with the public always up for questions, debate and pictures, a credit to the UKIP front bench.
As the evening arrived and the remainers started their daily light show, it was time for us to pack up and leave. We managed to score a victory in voting down Theresa May’s deal, but the Brexit war is certainly not over. We all go again tomorrow with fresh debates and the vote about taking no deal off the table. One thing is for certain, UKIP will have a presence outside of Parliament all week.
All these pro and against the EU demonstrators, have not the slightest affect upon me. I decided in the late 1980s that the EU was wrong for this Nation. I voted for the Common Market, but realised quite quickly that I had been lied to by Heath and Co. My only action to date has been to join UKIP, which is remarkable for me as I have never joined a Political Party before !
Do voters change their views because other people shout at them ? If they do, then this is a depressing example of how little personal intelligence is held by British Voters, and how shallow is their opinion ! A basic glory of UK/GB has been its democracy, and yet we have a Government and a PM that struggle with the implementation of the will of the People !
Britain was once a Great Nation, but if anything useful has emerged from Cameron’s referendum, it is that the British People need to be educated upon basics. Total disengagement from the EU is an obvious requirement, and will affect the generations to come.- However better education is an even greater necessity for the future !
Leaving the EU upon WTO terms, will bring short term problems ! Since when did we have no problems to deal with ? This old Nation has dealt with The Armada, Napoleon, The Kaiser and Hitler, and we have won by fighting, with life continuing quite well, so are we going to fail in dealing with a bunch of unelected shiny arses in Brussels ? IT’S TOO STUPID TO BE A QUESTION !
Thank you Elliott. Well done and full marks to all concerned.
Yes, Well done!
Well done! Great article too
And yet when you watch BBC from outside Westminster all you see are EU flags and placards . There is even one EU banner directly behind the presenters . The weakness of Leave has always been the various sections not working together and now Farage has started another one . None of these are likely to win seats at an election .Remain always appear united .
Well Done Elliot and others for sticking it out.
Excellent! Congratulations.
Brilliant accurate piece. Well done….