Populist ‘Vision’

A good example of the effect of a Populist Vision is what, almost single handedly, Boris Johnson did to destroy the UK economy.

The only vision he had was what he considered best for him personally. There was absolutely no thought about what Brexit would do to the UK economy.

Boris did become UK Prime Minister as a result of Brexit. He also set the British economy on a slippery slope to nowhere. According to the Office of Budget Responsibility, Brexit cost the UK economy 4% of GDP, estimated at 32 billion Pounds per annum. The latest estimate is that, today, the UK economy is 140 billion pounds (almost 5%) smaller than it would have been if Britain had remained in the European Union.

Let us consider the word ‘Farago’ – a confused mixture, a hodgepodge medley of doubts, fears, hopes, and wishes.

Perhaps this best describes the leader of the populist, so-called Reform party in the UK, Nigel Farage.

Mr Farage was very much part of the Brexit discussion. He was a member of the European Parliament for some years and wholeheartedly supported Brexit.

It appears his vision for Britain is very much like that of Mr Johnson. As with Johnson, he is a single issue politician. This time around he’s exploiting the emotional issue of migration. Does he have a vision for the future of Britain? There is no evidence of that. As with Johnson, all he cares about is becoming Prime Minister.

If Reform gets a majority in Parliament at the next election, as current polls suggest, although still four years away, and Farage becomes Prime Minister, we will see the final nails banged into the coffin of the British economy. Farage will complete what Johnson started, that is, the further destruction of the British economy.

The consequences of a possible Farage regime are far reaching. Will Scotland and Northern Ireland want to remain in the Union? Economically, it may be in their best interests to explore other options. Northrn Ireland could join Ireland, which is part of the European Union, and Scotland may again seek independence. So the British could be mired in conflict for years, trying to resolve these issues, instead of focusing on policies that will help to restore the British economy.