New challenges to the old wine order

The words ‘New World Order’ seem to be hanging over us all right now like an intrusive movie score. In less than two weeks, the new resident of the White House has made it clear that we can no longer take anything for granted. If he and his circle want to deny millions of people access to the US, or to build a wall, or to slap on a tariff, there is nothing to stop the – in the short term, at least. They can change the weather to suit their purposes.

In the UK, too, as it approaches the triggering of Article 50 and the consequent rupture from Europe, there is a similar – though far less muscular – impression that, by ‘taking back sovereignty’, the British will be able to do as they please without having to look to anyone else for permission or approval. The ‘Brussels Bureaucrats’ will no longer be able to prevent people in Birmingham from buying bendy bananas – to quote one of the erroneous totems that was treasured by the Brexiters.

 

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