1057 days ago, the great British public voted to leave the European union. Yet, in less than a week, they are being asked to vote in the European parliamentary elections. Depending on which radio, TV station or social media you’ve tuned into this week, the vote set to take place on the 23rd of May is either a costly waste of time, or a de facto second referendum on Britain’s future relationship with the European Union.
While neither of those positions are entirely true, its easy to see from the opinion polls just how fragmented the UK is at present. Major parties like the conservatives and the labour party are haemorrhaging vote share to smaller parties, with the Green Party, and the Liberal democrats projecting for a historic evening next Thursday. The major schism, however, has arrived in the form of Mr Brexit Himself, Nigel Farage.
Despite a string of controversial candidates, opinion polls from this past week show the Brexit Party comfortably ahead of the Labour party who languish in second place. This act of protest vote is unprecedented in British politics, and if the party performs as well as experts believe them to – Remainers will face an almighty challenge convincing anyone that the general public have changed their minds.
Meanwhile across town, Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have continued attempts to come to an agreement over the withdrawal agreement. Sources on both sides have been quoted as suggesting neither side ever came with an ambition to come to an agreement – suggesting perhaps it was just a face-saving exercise. This morning, Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party called the talks off, plunging Brexit further into crisis.
With the withdrawal agreement on the ropes, Theresa May hopes to bring about her 600th round of indicative voting at the beginning of June. Insiders within the 1922 committee have suggested that new majority will be found in favour for the withdrawal agreement, but that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Next week Theresa May is set to announce her resignation schedule ahead of the conservative party conference, hoping to have a new prime minister in place for September.
Boris, Gove, Rudd, Raab, McVey, Mordaunt, Leadsom or Stewart would all face the monumental challenge of piecing Britain back together and ensuring a prosperous future post Brexit. Many would see this as a poisoned chalice, but in the Game of Thrones – chaos is a ladder.