Whisper it – but some members of the government seem to be coming round to the idea that ditching the EU is *a good thing*.
While the – mostly Remain-backing – Cabinet and cohort of junior ministers still feel obliged to express some regret over Brexit, some sunshine is peeking through the clouds.
Today George Osborne called the move a “golden opportunity” (a far cry from his Project Fear persona) and is in the US sketching out ways to strengthen trans-Atlantic ties – one of the key aims of Leave campaigners in the first place.
We should begin conversation now with US & NAFTA about trading ties.Spoke to Speaker Ryan this weekend & Secretary Lew coming to London soon
— George Osborne (@George_Osborne) July 11, 2016
There’s cheery news for the military, too. Last Friday Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told the BBC’s Today programme that Brexit directly contributed to closer UK engagement with NATO.
That argument – that NATO is the core of European defence, not the EU – was another Leave campaign staple, and is already being proved true. Meanwhile, the much-feared centralised EU defence policy has become less viable.
Likewise, Sajid Javid, the Business Secretary has been flexing his muscles in India.
According to Politico, Javid has opened the door to preliminary trade talks with the Commonwealth nation – getting ready for the moment of EU withdrawal when Britain regain its ability to strike trade deals.
Again, a focus on global trade and greater engagement with the Commonwealth was a major strut of many Leavers’ economic pitch for Brexit.
Grant Shapps, a former Cabinet member and another Remainer, has also emphasised the trade opportunities Brexit can already bring.
In a blog for the Huffington Post he began by summoning Brexit “depression” – only to pivot to optimism at the prospect of doing better deals with countries that previously required kowtowing to overmighty EU commissioners.
Meanwhile George Osborne – the ominous mastermind of Project Fear – has been banging the drum for trade in China, which is one of his favourite things to do anyway.
I may be wrong, but I think these guys might be starting to like sovereignty after all.