Tory turmoil: A way ahead

Our country is at a very important crossroad. We need a logical, pragmatic path for prosperity and peace. Sadly, emotions and false pride appear to be the main motivating force. In a mature democracy people’s verdict is paramount no doubt. Can we really claim, that referendum of 23 June 2016 was free of fear and focussed on fair and reasonable issues?
Immigration was one of the main argument of the 'leave' campaign. Two years and one month have proved that it was a bogus issue.
Savings of huge sums of Money payable to EU was excreted beyond any limit. Leave campaigners had no valid calculation or compunction to claim that this so called ‘savings’ of £350mn per week would be available for national health service.
Over optimism or lack of realism made leave campaigners look back at history in the totally inappropriate, incorrect manner. Since 1870 Crimean war, Great Britain had been on the winning side of the First and Second world wars.
The fact is that in all these wars Britain was immensely helped with money and man power by USA, India, Australia, New Zealand and other former colonies. But for their help, in the middle of the Second World War, Nazi Germany was almost on the verge of victory.
Indian contribution was the largest and most vital. 4.2mn people joined the war effort from British India of whom 2.5mn where in the fighting forces. And 1.7mn were in manufacturing, supply of armaments and other services.
72000 Indians laid their life to fight for freedom of a country which had actually enslaved them.
Australia, New Zealand and many other countries of the British empire contributed far beyond their fair share for the ‘mother country’.
I am proud to be a British Indian. Long before I arrived here for further studies, I opted for British citizenship. I consider that to be the wisest decision I made at that time. Recently there was a journalist from a national media who asked me if am English or British. My answer was straight and consistent. I am British, British Indian. I rather elaborate on this. With due respect to my residence in England for over 50 years, I do not subscribe to the mentality of little-Englandness. I acknowledge the contribution of Scottish, Welsh and Irish people in the evolution, growth and values of “being British”.
In my opinion, the advocates hard Brexit in the Conservative party after all are not more than 15-20% of the MPs in the Commons. This so called “Euro-sceptics” have not yet been able to face the reality of the modern world. Britain was at one stage a world power. Britain after all, even today, though not a world super power is a country one can be proud of. It may not be the richest or mightiest nation in the world but it is as good as any and better than many in terms of fundamental values of civic liberty, compassion, tolerance, law and order, judiciary, free press and many other virtues.
Mahatma Gandhi during his peaceful and non violent struggle for Indian independence used to express a term, “unBritish” whenever the action of the colonial power was so abhorrently below the standard of the British nation.
In the referendum the leave won, won they did, with whatever is called a thin majority. One must acknowledge that people’s verdict is final. Was it a free and fair referendum? In my opinion respectfully no. It was emotional intoxication. What is the way ahead? In the aftermath of the Chequers Cabinet Summit and the follow up, perhaps sooner rather than later, this government may not survive.
There is no alternative government with viable programme available for the country. This prime minister or any other patch up leader will be far weaker in negotiation with EU the terms of Brexit. For a moment let us leave aside hard Brexit or soft Brexit. The British historically have never feared to retreat when the odds are insurmountable against them. British do not subscribe to 'Harakiri'.
A step back is not a defeat. It is a common sense. Why to risk everything for false pride and unrealistic hopes.
Britain is not called a nation of shopkeepers for nothing. We trade far more than many a nation. Our economic prosperity and subsequent delicate issues of defence, security, Irish and Scottish matter as well as international profile are at stake.
Better bite the bullet before embarking on a course which has no alternative and convincing plans for fundamental aspects of life, for this or future generations.
This may be a call in the wilderness, but, Asian Voice clearly feels that pause is needed, to look back and learn. If we don’t, let alone the next generation, this generation will undergo tremendous pain and hardships. They will not forgive us.