A Government of National Unit- Wait what?

Brexit looks set to have a tumultuous impact on the UK and our government. The current leadership, with a majority of -10 and no fresh ideas on our future, needs help. Why not form a coalition of National Unity?

The Plaid Green Labouril ConservaUKIP Scottish Unionist Party

Tory Churchill (middle-right) and Labour Attlee (middle-left)
in the WWII coalition.

The last time such a union happened was during World War Two, when the Liberals, Labour, and the Conservatives (the only three parties in parliament) formed a unified coalition under Winston Churchill. 

They, and he, saw the need for a robust government, free from opposition squabbling and petty disputes. 

They were committed to organising the country into a state of war, and then maintaining that state, until either they or Hitler were defeated; totally and absolutely.

Brexit isn’t nearly as concerning as the fate of the Northern Hemisphere, but a unified government would be useful. The Commons is fractured by intense debate, and Theresa May is under pressure from all quarters regarding her policies. A united government would be largely free of this and could solve several big political problems:

• Lack of committment to Brexit. With under a year left until exit, and less than eight months until the legislation has to be signed, cabinet ministers are falling like skittles (the bowling pins, not the sweets) and Jeremy Corbyn is grappling with an unkillable anti-semitism probe. Brexit is an awkward afterthought.

Theresa May in human mode.

• An absence of fresh ideas. The Maybot is known for a lack of human personality and dynamic thinking. Bringing in young Labour MPs and SNP ministers would shake up thinking (and amuse the country as they try to work with Jacob Rees-Mogg).

• Dodging of serious questions, and scores of petty disputes. Who cares about chlorinated chicken, when we could end up with no chicken? There’s too much obsession over the detail even without a grand plan yet in place. A national government would force solutions to big issues (i.e. the customs union) with the little problems shelved for a rainy day.

• Lack of Centrist politics. Abandoned by a Conservative party pulled to the right, and ignored by Corbynism, British Centrism is empty (Lib dems and Greens hardly count). Forcing more moderate MPs together might encourage them to redevelop the middle of British politics.

By one reckoning, the Conservatives have swung to an almost extremist viewpoint.
Labour is also much further out than before under Miliband, Brown, and Blair.

An all-party coalition that solves at least one of these problems would be well worth the time - something Theresa May isn’t using well right now. 

Economically, too, it could help reassure investor confidence, which currently looks wobbly at best. Showing that the government has its act together, and is committed to a functional Brexit, would result in a much more stable business atmosphere. 

Business confidence isn't as poor as many make it out,
 but it still looks more vulnerable than it should be.

And of course, it would encourage us. Both those who voted for and against Brexit now need guarantees that the exit will be carried out in a professional manner. I can’t think of many ways to reassure better than a national alliance.

Westminister - I think we got a problem

Unfortunately, there’s a reason why this idea has only been raised on the political fringes - the practicality of such a measure isn’t great. Hard-Right Brexiters mixing with Socialists? Tom Watson allying with Sir Bill Cash?

How would the Liberal Democrats, so committed to the idea of, at least, a Common’s vote on the final plan, work with a Prime Minister who frequently disregards parliamentary opinion? 

Corbyn-May relations are all an all-time low too; Prime Minister’s Questions’ has been knocking lumps out of them both recently, with fierce exchanges over Windrush, austerity and anti-semitism. It’s hard to imagine this gap being bridged, and it  probably never will be.

This would be nice...

...but this is the reality,

The idea of Winston Churchill being Prime Minister raised scorn and worry in most circles. Yet he disproved critics and went on to secure remarkable victories, both politically and militarily.

A National Government is, yes, unlikely, and causes concern in some circles. But we aren’t in the position right now to throw away the possibility. Britain needs it.