The difficult relationship we had with the European Parliament just before our departure in 2016 is very well-known. It wasn’t a case of all MEP’s finding fault, but those with a platform to cancel our membership made a vocal point over the reasons why.
The strength of feeling was matched on the street and online by those fully behind a Vote Leave momentum. The winning result meant a great deal to those that had fought hard, and it showed in the jubilation at having finally cast off its shackles.
However, the legacy of a turnaround in UK politics is hard to fathom in a time of increasing uncertainty. Are our issues a direct result of the referendum, or is it a more complicated situation? Is it wholly to blame, or is there another problem at play?
The politics of Middle England is riven with dark prophecies, foreboding, and omens that come around every corner. It appears in such places there is imminent decline in every industry, apart from news-making. There are journalists doing a roaring trade.
Yet the sentiments, thoughts, and beliefs of many build on a picture of empty shop fronts, antisocial streets, and ruined estates to bring about an impression of pessimism that’s more a heartbeat rather than a summing up of the pages of a paper.
It seems more and more that we believe things are wrong, that people have messed up, and that mistakes have been made. The direct insults, accusations, and laments are more academic than political. There’s a feeling politics is on a road to Hell.
Our membership of the EU is a large part of trying to work it out. It’s loomed large in a lot of our politics since the 70’s, and yet only in the 00’s did it top our priorities. A lot more serious points were made. Is it that we finally found the answer?
At best, we feel we can govern ourselves, and at worst, we’re sure that there’s cause for point at another power, or boldly laying the blame on one of our own. It brings into focus our institutions and probes each one for a solution to our conundrum.
The Church of England has been accused of ripping apart the fabric of the nation by letting abuse go unnoticed or unheard. It’s not alone in this, but as an established institution it takes pride of place as being a culprit worthy of rebuke.
It makes up a large part of our understanding of how things should work together, and takes a hit if it doesn’t. The same cannot be said of religious groups that play little to no part in the clerical leadership of the nation, being as diverse as we are.
These are pointed rebukes, because it strikes at the heart of a particular issue, rather than simply shaming a particular person. The inevitable sackings, reviews, and payouts are not meant to harm, but repair cracks in a leaking system.
Our progress as a country toward a new set of circumstances is evident in the many parts of it. Even in the worshipful groups that people come to either love or hate, there’s been a leap in understanding, practice, and standards, that have benefited us all.
The innovations in the political realm of different tools and options for ordinary citizens to use is also something to note. It makes it easier, more efficient, and more likely to be accessed than ever before. The debates are a minutiae of the overall experience.
The old stories rear their heads still, which is a part of the furniture in many respects. We suffer from the same sad stories as other democracies that pursue a freedom of speech, and hear some crazy and ridiculous things come out. It’s a risk we take.
A salmon doesn’t get far these days.
Maybe up a stream, and far away, onto someone’s plate, but those ‘air miles’ don’t count for the kind of prestige a fish might want in its native stream.
It’s a different matter entirely when people are out on the hunt, however, and want more from life – and the life around them.
This is where salmon lose their footing, of course.
In recent times, the salmon at Fortnum & Mason have come under their own criticism, as well.
Far from a river, and far from their habitat, they also have an indignity levelled over their implicit quality.
The Daily Mail reported a story recently about its fish being questioned at the store in Piccadilly, over their heritage.
It seems odd, to bring it up like that, but people want their facts (and a decent dinner, too!), so they’ll go extra lengths find out whatever it is they need to know.
It raises issues over everyday items that we’re used to; where they come from, and what to expect, now that the law is more aware of these things.
This is the stuff of shopping, after all, and of normal, everyday living.
The law can’t ignore it.
There’s nothing to stop an average fish-loving man, partial for a bit of salmon, from asking a few questions, and making a few inquiries about it.
It keeps our salmon the best it can be, and makes our shopping experience easier, too.