With just 6 months to go until this thing we’re calling Brexit goes ahead, how’s it shaping up around the UK?

Current negotiations are, in the words of Malcolm Tucker (The Thick of It) “A fucking omnishambles.”

Why? Because no-one in government actually thought the British peoples would Vote to leave and so no-one had made any real plans. It’s been a typically British ‘Make Do and Mend’, ‘Arse Over Tit’, ‘Make-it-up-as-we-go-along’ routine.

Just in case you didn’t know, or are reading this in another country, or been living with your head in the sand, or just not giving a fuck, here’s a quick explanation of some new words that have arisen since Brits voted to leave the European Union.

• Brexit – a blend of Britain and exit.
• Bregret – some people are having second thoughts!
• Braccident – Did we make a mistake?!
• Brenial – It’s all going to plan! Don’t panic!

Some Brits want a chance to vote again. But isn’t this what Democracy is all about? We get to vote and the Government has to follow through on that decision. But many people believe that we were not given all the information required to make such a huge decision. Some people say they would vote differently, now they know more about what leaving the EU entails. Some people can’t wait to take control of our own decision-making and sod Brussels.

What gets my goat is that all the talk on TV news, Radio news, journals and talk shows tends to focus on trade. How will Britain make trade deals with Europe (and other countries) when we leave? How much will it cost?

BUT, for me, and many others who did give the vote some thought, leaving Europe was not (purely) about trade.

I will admit that I cried the morning the results were announced. Why?

Because the EU is about more than finances –

• It’s about joining together and sharing a standard system of law.
• It’s about European integration as an antidote to WWII nationalism.
• It’s about human rights and democracy.
• It’s about bringing together those who had previously been at war with each other.
• It’s about peace.
• It’s about common values.
• It’s about where any sane person should want the world to be heading – a unified whole.

So what do we think so far? (and yes, this is a TOTALLY biased selection)

Stewart Lee – comedian – “I haven’t written any jokes about Brexit ’cause I didn’t see the point of committing to a cause of action for which there is no logical or financial justification.”

Andy Hamilton – comedian and regular on Radio 4’s The News Quiz – describes it as “Schrödinger’s Brexit; because in theory this Brexit is simultaneously both alive and dead.” suggesting that no-one actually knows if it’s working or not.

Peter Gabriel – musician – was concerned about UK foreign policy after a number of international artists were unable to perform at the Womad Music Festival because of visa issues.

Neil Gaiman – writer – “that sort of moment at the end of Planet of the Apes where Charlton Heston sees the Statue of Liberty … I was going, ‘Oh, no. Are you really …”

David Beckham – former England footballer – “We live in a vibrant and connected world where together as a people we are strong. For our children and their children we should be facing the problems of the world together and not alone.”

Emma Thompson – actor – “We should be taking down borders, not putting them up.”

Jonathan Pie – fictitious news reporter – “The Brexit dream is dying Tim, aaah.” It’s a cluster f**ck!

How’s your Brexit going?!