The British Political System has descended to a new level of banality

The British system of democracy is in a sad state. The ruling party is sustaining itself by lies and deceit and the worst kinds of fake news on social media. News organisations such as the BBC are afraid to hold the government to account. Recently a government minster announced during an interview with the BBC that Britain was going to plant 30 million trees to improve the environment. He claimed that when Britain leaves the EU it would be free to do so; he was implying that the EU was was holding Britain back. The interviewer should than have followed up with the question "what EU law is preventing Britain from planting these trees?" Of course, there is no such law; the  politician was are being allowed to get away with deceit.
The public is being confused by the most egregious propaganda full of deceit and false promises.

The opposition is no better; surely the leader of the Labour party should inform the public what is his personal opinion about Brexit. It is perfectly possible to be open about your opinion and still have the policy of renegotiating the Brexit deal and then asking the public whether they want to proceed with this new Brexit deal or stay in the EU. What is the leader of the opposition frightened of? The public deserve openness and the truth.

Both political parties are promising 10 billion here and 10 billion there: all over the place.  This is disingenuous. The nation will not be able to  afford any of these promises if it leaves the EU.The economy is dragging along in near recession and leaving the single market and customs union will make matters worse.

If we leave the single market we will probably lose large sections of our industry.

When we leave the EU our power as a medium sized state will be diminished. We will lose the trade deals we have as a result of our membership of the EU. We will lose our deals with Japan and Canada and other larger states; these trade deals will have to be renegotiated to try to maintain the status quo. Our position will be weakened without the EU. By leaving the EU we risk losing trade deals which already cover about 60% of world trade.  Leaving the EU is economically stupid. A weakened Great Britain will be at the mercy of China and the US. There will be no free lunches and no extra money to be spent on the NHS, the Police, Social Services or Education.

The Prime Minister has promised that the Brexit transition period will not be extended beyond 31st December 2020.  A new free trade deal with the EU will not have been negotiated by then.There is no hope of this being a successful political or economic strategy. In fact it will probably be an political and economic disaster. When we leave the EU we will lose most of our negotiating power.  The economic cliff edge will be re-awakened but with a vengeance. Increased tariffs and quotas will be placed on our exports to the EU , Japan and Canada etc and according to WTO rules - so much for our sovereignty. Every lorry will be stopped at Dover and the Channel Tunnel for their documents to be examined. The queues will be tremendous. There will be an economic border between the Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK; a recipe for conflict with the "loyalist" community of Northern Ireland. There will be no mitigation forthcoming from the EU.

 All of this is a prospect of economic stagnation and political conflict. Britain will be on its own.

It is quite likely that Scotland will push for a border poll and it will probably be successful this time.  The UK will be negotiating to split up before it has finalised an agreement with the EU: another recipe for chaos.

It is time for the major parties to spell out the consequences of  Brexit. The promises made to the voters about sovereignty and obeying EU law have already been broken because of the need to placate the EU over the Good Friday Agreement. The promises about ending freedom of movement for EU citizens will also be broken. Britain will have to make concessions over this otherwise we will not be able to negotiate a good free trade agreement, this broken promise will be dressed up in a fudge.

The leave voters have been duped by politicians of both sides. The best course of action would be to remain in the EU. The costs of leaving far outweigh the doubtful benefit - freedom to make trade deals which are worse than we have already got. It is time for politicians to tell the truth and the voting public to wake up. I doubt that this will happen and the slippery slope will get steeper. Britain's democracy is no longer fit for purpose as it allowing this to happen. We need proper constitutional change to improve our political system and democracy  otherwise we will sink into the mire.