What does healing the Brexit divide mean?

Feb 1, 2020 by Jill

by Mark Easton, BBC News:

The moment of Brexit is a time to “find closure and let the healing begin”, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson. But what does “healing” involve?

If there is one thing that people on both sides of the referendum debate agree on it is that, at times, the argument became far too hostile. In the House of Commons, on social media and in the streets, passions became inflamed.

An official statement from the prime minister earlier this month said now was “a moment to heal divisions”. It was also announced that Brexit would be marked with a Downing Street light display, the hoisting of flags, a countdown clock and the minting of a commemorative coin.

While many of his supporters want to celebrate leaving the European Union, there’s little sign that these events have healed political divisions.

On the other hand, it’s not clear how the decision of the SNP to fly an EU flag outside the Scottish Parliament building was going to bring people together.

To heal, we need to understand the nature of the divide. Why do people feel so strongly about Brexit? What are the values that lie behind the slogans and insults?

Read here

Read also: The implications of Brexit for the Institute’s concerns from The Christian Institute