Dear John,
Back in 2016, Nigel Farage adamantly claimed that getting Brexit done means making food cheaper. Three years later, the Brexit party desperately tried to woo voters with promises of affordable groceries. Just last June, Jacob Rees-Mogg boldly asserted that Brexit would cut fees and “allow us to lower food prices.” Despite how often that lie has been repeated by Brexit hardliners, it’s remained just that – a lie.
Yesterday, DEFRA revealed that a new flat fee – the “common user charge” – will apply to animal and plant product imports starting on April 30th. The government, who, true to form, announced the changes at the very last minute, claimed that the proceeds will go to “world-class” border detention facilities. Where is their mandate to make consumers pay for their red-meat election fodder?
Once again, we’re hit with the harsh reality that our rights have been traded away for nothing other than a pack of lies. Students and professionals have lost their ability to roam Europe, the institutions protecting our human rights are under siege, and the “red tape” (the laws that once protected UK consumers) has been slashed. Quite a heavy price to pay for empty promises and delusions of grandeur.
Of course, the zealots of the Brexit cult already have a different spin. The Conservatives’ chums at The Express and GB News are giddy today, celebrating imaginary victories from their alternate reality. As Upton Sinclair once said, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”
The Brexit cult has spread its evangelical fervour throughout government and media. Lies debunked years ago – currently being disproven once again before our eyes – are still being repeated. It’s no accident or anomaly: broken political systems produce broken political results.
We need to build a political environment where lies like these carry consequence. Where mechanisms exist to hold politician’s feet to the fire. Where the voice of the majority triumphs over powerful extremists and cultish demagogues. It’s not impossible – we have the blueprints. We just need to start building.
Yours,
The Open Britain Team
