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BREXIT DAY 10

7/2/2016

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Of all the advice being dished out in UK newspapers about how to cope with the fall-out from Brexit, the best so far has got to be this: drive extra carefully when motoring in other EU countries from now on, because the cops will be out for revenge against Brits.

What Ian Crowder of the Automobile Association actually said was:  “Minor indiscretions may have been overlooked in the past but it is now even more important to abide by the letter of the law if you don’t want to be stopped and fined by EU traffic police”.

I assume he means traffic police in EU countries, because there is no “EU traffic police”, at least not yet, although it’s such an obvious idea that I’m surprised it wasn’t a bone of contention in the referendum campaign.

However, there was once a direct link between the EU and driving offences, and my personal experience of it was entirely positive and heartening.

It was the Spring of 1986 and I was piloting the family Meade through Spain when I overtook a car on a bit of road where it was illegal.  A traffic cop on a motorbike saw me, and pulled me over. He was very polite but insisted that he would have to give me an on-the-spot fine.

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Then he said: “But it’s your lucky day, because to mark my country’s accession to the EEC this year , we are reducing all motoring fines against nationals of other Member States by 25% for a limited time only!”.  I thanked him profusely, welcomed him to the club and paid up with the pleasure that comes from feeling you’ve got something of a bargain.  Happy days!
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BREXIT DAY 9

7/2/2016

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I’m referring all queries about the stupidity of my country of origin to the Foreign Office or the Home Office or the British embassy in Brussels from now on.  It’s not my fault that we don’t have a German-style system in which matters of constitutional importance must obtain a minimum 75% majority to be legally binding in a referendum.  

When I explain point out that we don’t have a written constitution critics say that that’s not the point. The point is that you shouldn’t let issues of constitutional-style importance go through by such a relatively slim majority, because that’s just daft.  

At the very least the result should be subject to approval or ratification by Parliament, like it would be in the Netherlands, where referendum results can go all the way to the King if necessary. And what was David Cameron doing saying the result would be considered binding, when it doesn’t have to be?  

Listen, I say, don’t ask me, I'm the guy who got booed (affectionately, I like to think) when suggesting to a London audience earlier this year that the public shouldn’t get a vote on something so complicated and confusing and, ultimately, crucial, as leaving the EU..

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And anyway what’s more democratic: a 52/48 victory for Leave in a public vote, or a (potential) two thirds-ish majority for Remain amongst MPs, who are of course the mandated representatives of the people in the first place?
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BREXIT DAY 8

7/1/2016

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The front door of Meade Towers is being repainted soon and the decorator arrived today to discuss colours.  As we stood on the pavement pondering the options on his colour chart, a “faceless eurocrat” who lives a few doors away came by, on his way back to his EU Commission office after lunch.  We haven’t met since about 15 days BB (Before Brexit) and he stopped to express his dismay and condolences at the result. I thanked him and apologised for being British. Then he noticed the decorator waving his bits of coloured paper and asked what was happening.  “I’m having the front door painted like a Union Jack”, I said, “but I’m having trouble finding the right shade of red”.
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