Brexit Fallout - anyone for tennis?

A key question resulting from the Brexit Fallout has been ‘why did we even have a referendum’. I've been wondering about this, was it:

• pressure from Nigel Farage and UKIP;
• the outers in the Tory camp and the simmering leadership battle taken off the back burner and now brought to light;
• lack of courage to implement the existing re-negotiation agreement without going to the polls;
• lack of foresight and understanding in terms of the demo-geographic likelihood of decisions to Leave or to Remain, and the far reaching implications of this in terms of political stability.

Overloaded Bandwagons

I am a Leaver (sovereignty, bureaucracy, corruption, and immigration rules) and a Remainer (collaboration and partnerships, funding, controlled immigration, environmental sustainability, and trade - excluding TTIP), alas there was no box for me to tick on the ballot.

Anyways, I respect the democratic vote which should not be viewed piecemeal, Leave it is, but I do wonder - was this the left | right time and place, and on the correct terms. Tremendous and tumultuous upheavals will result I think, but the opportunities are endless if the exit process is timely and well managed, and the re-budgeting is fair.

Although I also wonder how political leaders and other factions will achieve this given the recent and somewhat cataclysmic step down -vs- step up events.

The 'yes' 'no' basic option without a plan attached was always going to create unnecessary delays and foreseeable problems. The resignations don't help, the absence of a viable political opposition is an unwarranted nuisance. And Scotland - well, what can I say.

These factions need to get a grip, stop jumping on retro-bandwagons, lead from the front, backstabbing is not a policy agenda, listen and learn.

Let’s Make a Plan – a good one

• A Plan and timetable for Exit should have been created alongside a Plan timetable to Remain – this is standard risk management practice.
• Plans to resign and/or stand for the Tory party leadership should have been made clear from the outset, honestly.
• Plans to oust the Labour party leader should have been better thought out and include a commitment to the 'party of opposition'.
• The government, are going to 'consult', they are going to 'negotiate', what is the Plan, where is it, why do we have to wait 3+ months?
• At least a change management unit has been set up in the Cabinet Office, albeit about a year later than ideal, and with no Plan in place.
• A Tory MP has stated it will take 2 – 4 years to complete the process of leaving the European Union, we have time to secure a good deal, but of course – we need a Plan.

Establish the Correct Priorities

Incidentally, what was Gove doing on a campaign trail when he should have been focused on the dire state of affairs in prisons and the justice system, he is the minister afterall. Mmmm, I remember his stint in Education. Well Boris (Johnson, not Becker), there is a lesson for the learning.

So far, the Plans are non-existent, or they are incorrect, or they are untimely, or they are all of the above. It seems the government do not know how to forecast, manage, or mitigate risk. They are treating the electorate like a toy, we have not been properly informed of process and outcomes. They are an embarrassment. I am pissed off, seriously.

Anyone for Tennis?

I’ve been watching some tennis, and thinking about analogies between the racket game and politics. The Wimbledon tournament is up and running, delights, upsets, and unexpected results aplenty, and only the fourth time we have had play on middle Sunday.

Comparing and contrasting the current situation in post-apocalyptic Brexit, less than two weeks on, unidentified flying objects have been whizzing across the UK party political spectrum like a high speed tennis ball at 140mph.

Even though this does work on centre courts, I can’t think of any successful business trying to run itself along these parameters, the law courts are littered with their failures.

Consider the following statements garnered and summarised from the Brexit Fallout, they are my personal ‘highlights’, you could think of others or more. Ascribe a tennis shot to each reality e.g. slice, cross court sharp angle, lob, back hand volley, forehand smash, a last ditched ‘get’ from beyond the tramlines, top spin drop shot, ace – no chance of return etc.

• I’m standing | I’m not standing | I’m standing.
• I’m resigning because you’re staying.
• I’m not going, your lack of confidence in me is irrelevant.
• I voted you in, so you should stay.
• I didn’t vote you in, so you should go.
• I’m ousting | I’m not ousting.
• I was staying for a while, but now I’m leaving – early.
• Wow, this is an opportunity, I’m up for it!
• I’ve changed my mind a few times.
• Ha-ha I told you so, this is it, now I’ll go.
• I’m busy, do not disturb, please get back to me in 3 months.
• I want another referendum with different results.

Visualise, describe, explain, expand - a nice little exercise for study groups!

PS: We need a plan.

https://www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/blog/planning-for-success/

PPS: Keep calm and carry on.

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/well-connected-cycle-community-engagement-cynthia-roomes

Cynthia A. Roomes

Community & Youth Work | Funding & Fundraising | Creative

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