What words could be sufficient to carry the historical weight of events which unfolded on June 24.
ADVERTISEMENTWhat words could be sufficient to carry the historical weight of events which unfolded on June 24. A divorce from the European Union was never meant to be in the script or the implosion of the Tory Party.
Like the plot of a Shakespeare play there were to be twists and turns and bodies everywhere.
The official Leave campaign took to the stage with a sprinkling of stardust and ready bonhomie provided by Boris Johnson. The quotable former Mayor of London provided the quips and sound bites, his one time Oxford University friend Michael Gove brought the gravitas and intellect.
The dream team jumped on a battle bus and toured the kingdom that would be theirs.
A Brexit win set in motion an unfolding tragedy for some of the characters, David Cameron betrayed by Michael Gove who had refused to join his Remain campaign left the stage.
“The British people have made the very clear decision to take a different path. I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination,” he announced outside Number 10.
The spotlight now focused on Boris Johnson and his bid to become Prime Minister – was a thunder clap from the heavens as he was being questioned by reporters a sign from the Gods of what was to unfold?
Michael Gove threw his weight behind the Johnson campaign by now talked about as the favourite for number 10.
All was not as it seemed. It was a Lady McBeth who reportedly brought about a seismic change in the race for Downing Street. Sarah Vine, a well known columnist in the Daily Mail is the wife of Michael Gove.
An email from her somehow unexpectedly fell into the public domain. It raised questions about Johnson’s suitability. The media gathered for what was expected to be Boris’s announcement of his candidacy.
“I must tell you, my friends that having consulted colleagues, I have concluded that person cannot be me,” he told his supporters.
A short headline entitled “Et tu Gove” was enough to lead the unfolding story of political intrigue and treachery which left many incredulous.
But this is no play or political thriller. The United Kingdom has left Europe and is without an effective leader with no clear vision of how Brexit will work and what the impact on the people will be.
Across the political divide there is a deepening civil war in the opposition Labour Party where leader Jeremy Corbyn is under siege and blamed for running a lacklustre campaign to remain in the EU.
He has refused to go despite a vote of no confidence. In a time of crisis effective leadership is vital, the script remains open while the UK is in a political vacuum.