‘Brexit’ vote was a model of democracy

John Shepherd deserves a round of applause for easing the anxieties surrounding the “Brexit” vote in Britain by submitting a hilarious letter, full of side-splitting jokes and humorous observations. The country’s new Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, is worse than Donald Trump, British politicians are high on “yaba”, and what the country really needs is a military coup! The best joke, however, is Mr Shepherd’s no doubt tongue-in-cheek claim that the people were duped into voting “leave”. If they were really so gullible, they would have been so terrified by former PM Cameron’s warning that a leave vote would result in increased risk of a third World War that they would all have voted to remain.

In reality, the referendum campaign was a textbook example of how a democratic process can and should be conducted. Both sides of the debate exhibited passion and commitment to their cause, and traded insults and exaggerated claims in equal measure. The British people, well used to political rhetoric, were easily able to separate embellishment from fact, and voted according to inclinations.

Having lost the argument, Cameron relinquished power with dignity and good grace, there was a smooth transition of power, and the new government is now getting to grips with the challenges and opportunities from the “Brexit” vote.

I am sure that many people around the world, not least here in Thailand, were watching the drama and wishing that political systems in their own countries were more akin to the British.

Robin Grant