Tactical voting

Today, there are local elections across England, although not in St Maggies, But the results, when they are announced tomorrow morning, will be seen as a ringing endorsement to whichever party is deemed to have done well, and ignored as a blip by the party, or parties, that do badly.

The choice is between the two main parties both of whom back Brexit in some kind of fantasy way, or the Lib Dems and Greens who are against it. So, if both main parties loose many seats, then we will know that the mood in the nation is changing. But then, Labour whipped its front bench in the Lords to stop an amendment to include a clause mandating a final vote by the people on whatever the final deal might be.

As I have said in the past, this all sounds good in theory, but asking the people in a referendum got us to this point, and it would all depend on whether it was a black and white choice, or would the public be allowed to pick and choose between SM, CU and so on. And being told, clearly, what each choice would mean and cost would be needed, or it would be a bad as the original referendum.

Since Tuesday, when the HoL inflicted ten defeats on the Government, there has been unprecedented attacks by the Hate Mail and several Brexiteers on the Peers. Let us not forget, scrutiny is the HoL's job, and they were doing just that. It seems odd, however, that it is the Lords that are trying to safeguard our rights, but then that upper chamber is full of lifelong professionals from all walks of life. The Conservatives had eight years to reform the Lords since coming to power in 2010, but their last chance in 2012 failed with in-party fighting. Now, why does that sound familiar?

Pressure is ramping up, and will get worse as the days and weeks fly by. Rumours abound as to which red line(s) would be scrubbed out, and what will the DUP accept.

But bear in mind, that unless something significant happens, UK will leave the EU in under eleven months time, ready or not. And with realistic customs controls maybe nearly a decade away, an almighty crash, in more ways that one, is coming.