In The Simpsons it’s doughnuts. Regardless of how Homer is engaged, the sight or a sugary sniff will hook him. It’s instinctive, Pavlovian.
Brexit is our doughnut. No matter what is happening elsewhere, the mere mention of it diverts us and sends us into a lather. While this has benefits – Brexit will decide our future, and our children’s futures and their children’s – there are other things going on. And if we don’t pay attention, those other things will evolve until they present themselves in ways that shock. Their power to alter how we live is every bit as potent as Brexit.
At present, it’s Scotland and Northern Ireland – the loud celtic fringe, always agitating, never happy with their lot. Best turn the volume down, let them argue amongst themselves while other things go on.
Best not.
Brexit is our doughnut. No matter what is happening elsewhere, the mere mention of it diverts us and sends us into a lather
Last week there was a seismic change in Northern Ireland. Yet, you wouldn’t really know it unless you were following their local news. Which, I suppose, is fine. Northern Ireland has been making noise and causing damage well beyond its range for a long time.
But now, for the first time ever, Unionists don’t have an overall majority in government. The relevance can’t be overstated. Northern Ireland is less a state, more a convenient holding pattern. It was established in 1921 to bring an end to a bloody war of independence, and the pro-union political class has been running things since.