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Barnhill, Jura. June 2015. (Thanks to the kindness of the Fletcher family).

“Out, out, brief candle”…? (Macbeth Act V, Scene ii)

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The MP for Wellingborough’s speech at Second Reading of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill – in shorthand the ‘EU NoW’ Bill (a contradiction in contraction if ever there was one) - stood out as clearly as his tie which rather had the effect of glowing amidst the debate like an eerie sartorial wick.

Indeed Mr. Bone referred to his tie in his contribution from the floor, stating: “I apologise for wearing the hideous tie again”.

However his speech stood out for different reasons. His contribution had integrity through its consistency and struck a well-considered conciliatory note. For example he reiterated his view that the Government was wrong in seeking to invoke the Royal Prerogative to trigger Article 50 unilaterally. Parliamentary scrutiny is a good thing, said Mr. Bone, and any Bill will benefit from parliamentary scrutiny. He struck, something of, a conciliatory note in seeking to distance himself from some of the more ill-advised matters arising amidst the EU Referendum debate.

Moreover Mr Bone also spoke against the Government’s continuing stance with regard to EU citizens in the UK which places significant undue worry on a particular sector of society. He said he, personally, would have preferred the Government to state, unilaterally, that EU citizens in the UK prior to the EU Referendum would have the right to stay.

The currency of that sentiment was devalued rather when Mr. Bone noted that the Government’s stance on the matter was understandable - as the Government wished to protect the position of UK nationals in other EU member states.

It is worth examining the proposition that there is some credible political leverage relating to the position of individuals (whether individuals from other EU member states sited in the UK or UK nationals sited in other EU member states) in forthcoming ‘Brexit’ negotiations.

Carl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) is acknowledged as, “one of history’s most important military strategists… [On War] is filled with quotations familiar today, in particular his notion of war as a continuation of politics by other means.”[1]

With that in mind it is perhaps worth contemplating the great strategist’s views regarding the position of civilians in conflict.

David Pugh[2] provides insight into Clausewitz’s perspective on the matter:

“He was aware that civilian suffering was not simply an accidental by-product of war but also the result of deliberate strategic intent to compel an enemy to do one’s will. Clausewitz did not endorse such methods because he had a moral and theoretical preference for decisive battles between conventional armed forces. He tended to dismiss violence against civilian persons and property as morally wrong, militarily ineffective and politically counter-productive.”

If nothing else, setting aside the obvious moral observations, and at minimum, those last three words might usefully echo in the House of Commons as the Committee Stage, so brief it seems barely worth the candle, of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill begins.

Just before the Committee Stage debate began, Mr. Speaker was (in contravention to Parliamentary etiquette) applauded in the Chamber when he stated his position concerning a future visit by the current U.S. President – a position reinforced as a result of recent, controversial, Executive decisions.

Though commended in a Point of Order by the M.P. for Bolsover, Mr. Speaker’s remarks may not endear him to President Trump.

However Mr. Speaker may well have been applauded by a past U.S. President. On June 4th 1965, President Johnson gave a lecture, ‘To Fulfil these Rights’, at Howard University. Reflecting an aspect of the ‘Great Society’, President Johnson spoke of: “Equality as a fact and equality as a result”.

Closing his speech President Johnson said: The Scripture promises: “I shall light a candle of understanding in thine heart, which shall not be put out.” Together, and with millions more, we can light that candle of understanding in the heart of all America. And, once lit, it will never again go out.”


Permalink 1 comment (latest comment by John Gynn, Monday, 13 Feb 2017, 14:54)
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