Does Brexit mean Brexit, as Prime Minister Theresa May is so fond of saying, because a lot of people are not that sure any more.
The referendum seemed an easy choice – remain to stay in the European Union and leave to go.
But a gaggle of High Court judges has thrown a spanner in the works by ruling the referendum result is not binding and only advisory on the government and that both the House of Lords and the House of Commons must ratify the Brexit vote with one of their own.
May is staying chipper and promises an appeal.
The date is set in the Supreme Court for December 5 to December 8 with a result not expected to January 2017.
Justice in action
An unprecedented 11 judges will listen to the government’s legal team arguing that May can execute the royal prerogative and make the decision to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and Britain’s departure from the EU.
If that’s not enough excitement, the proceedings will be streamed live across the web.
The referendum was a narrow victory for the leavers – 51.9% to 48.1% – but now Britain seems to be clinging onto EU membership by its fingertips.
No one knows where the country is heading politically or economically.
May and her Brexit colleagues have a siege mentality. They have barricaded themselves into Whitehall and seem to have a paranoia about giving any indication whatsoever of their negotiating position come the Article 50 talks.
The deafening silence has given momentum to nationalist politicians in Edinburgh and Cardiff to demand more say in Brexit.
Living in limbo
The only certainty in all this bluster is that six months on from Brexit is Christmas, and come the holidays, the country will be no nearer to leaving the EU than when the Brexit vote was initially taken in June.
And after the Christmas and New Year break, the whole argument has still got to find a safe passage through the Lords and past MPs.
The whole nation will breathe a sigh of relief when Brexit is all over… and for most, the fateful day cannot come soon enough.
Living in limbo is bad for Britain and Europe. Better to go than hang around like the last party guest who does not want to leave.
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