{"id":651147,"date":"2025-12-23T21:30:25","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T21:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/651147\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T21:30:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T21:30:25","slug":"fixing-brexits-damage-isnt-betrayal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/651147\/","title":{"rendered":"Fixing Brexit\u2019s damage isn\u2019t \u2018betrayal\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Open any right-wing media and you\u2019ll observe the stale and erroneous cry of \u201cBrexit betrayal\u201d. Whether it\u2019s from a former Tory minister, a GB news presenter or an Express \u2018journalist\u2019, the sour grapes attitude smacks of irony \u2013 a fact the authors seem unable to grasp.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s a debate on a customs union, agreement on rejoining Erasmus or plans to \u2018get closer\u2019 to the EU, it seems any proposals aimed at limiting the damage of Brexit are fair game.<\/p>\n

Customs union bill<\/p>\n

In what was claimed as a \u201chistoric victory\u201d by LibDem Leader, Ed Davey, a private members bill was narrowly passed on 9 December. The UK-EU customs union (duty to negotiate) bill<\/a>, described by the Guardian<\/a> as \u201ctokenistic\u201d and likely to have \u201cno practical impact\u201d, still managed to rattle the Brexiters. Lacking any arguments as to why a democratic parliamentary debate on a bespoke customs union with the EU would be a bad thing, the cries of betrayal rang hollow.<\/p>\n

Whether the Brexiters believe it\u2019s the (declining number of) Brexit supporters that are being betrayed, or the whole country, is not always clear \u2013 filling in the blanks has never been a Brexiter strongpoint. As to the fact that those advocating leaving the EU swore blind Brexit would not mean leaving the customs union or the single market, it\u2019s clear the country has been betrayed, not just those expressing their outrage.<\/p>\n

\n

GB News and the other Farage-backing media are furious that we won the vote on our customs union bill yesterday.They know they’re losing the argument and that the tide is turning. More and more people back our plans to rebuild Britain’s trade with Europe and tackle the cost of living crisis.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Liberal Democrats (@libdems.org.uk)<\/a> 2025-12-10T10:42:40.504Z<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Erasmus+ programme<\/p>\n

Following the news that, after months of negotiations, the UK is finally rejoining the Erasmus+ scheme, new cries of betrayal have been voiced. Those voices include the former Tory home secretary, Priti Patel, who claims that Labour are continuing to \u201cbetray Brexit\u201d and \u201chave consistently undermined the result of the 2016 referendum\u201d. Patel also accused the government of \u201cthrowing away billions of pounds of hard-pressed taxpayers\u2019 money\u201d on rejoining Erasmus.<\/p>\n

It would appear that, along with other former Tory minsters and MPs, Patel has forgotten what her former leader, Boris Johnson, promised at the despatch box in January 2020 \u2013 that there was \u201cno threat\u201d to the Erasmus scheme. Understandable, I guess, when there were so many misrepresentations of the facts, so many betrayals, so many broken promises. As to the cost, Brexiters seemingly also forget we must now pay non-membership fees for the benefits and opportunities of inclusion in any EU programmes.<\/p>\n

Closer ties<\/p>\n

Over recent months, the government has changed tack regarding the mention of Brexit, having abandoned their code of silence. Where once the rhetoric was about \u2018making Brexit work\u2019, and a \u2018reset\u2019 of EU\/UK relations, lately the damage of Brexit has been openly discussed, even by the PM and chancellor. Calls for closer ties that would help limit the damage or improve trade, however, are \u2013 to Brexiters at least \u2013 yet more evidence of a Brexit betrayal.<\/p>\n

Whether Brexiters truly believe their cries of betrayal, or whether it\u2019s just more noise from those with no arguments or credibility left, surely it\u2019s time to challenge the rhetoric. While talk of closer ties is welcome, the reluctance of Labour to revisit their red lines, and the snail\u2019s pace of any progress, continues to frustrate. Government\u2019s adherence to the letter of their manifesto \u2013 while showing a welcome commitment to promises made \u2013 demonstrates an unwillingness to be flexible, even when the situation changes.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no doubt that relations between the UK and the EU have improved since Brexit. Or that the government are committed to strengthening those bonds and working more closely together on common goals. However, an apparent willingness to side with the US could seriously impact any future plans, especially if the government favour American policies and standards over European ones.<\/p>\n

Brexiters short of any convincing arguments or facts will continue to cry betrayal at the least provocation. If our government continues to acknowledge the damage of Brexit while simultaneously failing to offer any real solutions, it won\u2019t just be those on the far-right complaining. Those of us of a more \u2018woke\u2019 persuasion will be screaming betrayal too!<\/p>\n

\n

You can\u2019t take Brexiters seriously any more. None of them. We should have zero respect for anyone who is happy to turn a blind eye to the damage & lossesThe news about Erasmus+ prompted Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel to fulminate: \u201cLabour continue to betray Brexit.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Bremain in Spain (@bremaininspain.com)<\/a> 2025-12-18T10:09:05.788Z<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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