I don't think that the message to be taken from the local elections re Brexit is actually particularly clear.Dunckel wrote: ↑5 years agoThe Maybot has just stated that (after losing over 25% of their local councilors) the electorate has sent a clear message that they want the Government to deliver Brexit.
She is literally only capable of seeing the World that she wants to see and shuts out any evidence that the truth may lie elsewhere.
The clearest message is "a plague on both your houses" to the two main parties (though more so Tories than Labour). That could be interpreted (as May and Corbyn are) as a desire to get on with Brexit, but it could also be punishment for getting us into this position in the first place, or protest at the behaviour of MPs, I don't think it's a clear single message. The biggest beneficiary was the Lib Dems and it is tempting to say that, as they are the clearest pro-EU party, that is a message - but they are also the traditional third party, the recipient of protest votes in local elections that don't always translate to nationals, the party that most strongly position themselves as standing on local rather than national issues. UKIP didn't do conspicuously well - but I'm not sure UKIP are still seen as a primarily a single-issue pro-leave party, I think they are now seen as a slightly nasty right-wing nationalist party.
I think the EU elections will be a clearer test. In those, Farage's new party will probably be seen as the natural single home for pro-leave votes, but (because of continuing lack of interest in cooperation and compromise), the pro-remain votes will be split. I think there is a real risk that the EU elections will deliver an apparent strong endorsement of leave.
I increasingly feel that I would settle for Brexit tied to a strong commitment to a customs union and single market, on the basis that it minimises the economic damage whilst avoiding hard Brexit. And also, which is not the over-riding consideration but a stronger factor than I sense some of you feel, honours the referendum result.