We worked out that in early January 2020, our oldest child will have lived in America for longer than he did in the UK. For both of them, our lives in England will seem more and more like a distant memory, and they'll be those kids at the party who talk about how they moved here very young and go back to visit most years. For me, that transition date comes in 2049, when I'll be 66.
This is why last night's election result had me in tears this morning. Even though I no longer live in the UK, a large part of me still cares deeply about what happens there, and my life is still very much intertwined with my friends and family who live there. The idea of handing a massive majority to the Tories means that Brexit, which has been a frailty in my mind ever since the referendum, now becomes a nailed on certainty, an avoidable seismic shock that none of us can truly prepare for. My travels around Europe, my liberal upbringing and my vision for teaching children to be world citizens are all undone by the retreat into our island shell. Brexit rejects the strength in unity, refuses the give and take of reciprocal agreements in favor of a unicorn trade deal and allows those who wish to blame "the other" for their problems a louder voice. I shed tears for my tattered dreams, for my kids who lose their birthright to live and work freely among 500 million people and for the turn in society towards isolationism and selfishness.
But the eternal optimist in me can never sit still for long (or maybe it's just the coffee kicking in). The Tories now have 5 years to implement their vision for the country, and for Brexit. Maybe (maybe?!?) it'll work out and we'll all be proved wrong. But if it doesn't, there's no Lib Dem coalition to hide behind, no blaming it on the previous government, no opposition to stop them. The buck stops here, and as the opposition, all we can do is watch and be ready to call them into accountability and hold them to their promises. In 2024, we need to be ready with an opposition worthy of the name, and while we may never be able to undo Brexit, we can rebuild the links and ties that make us part of Europe.
These events (of which there seem to have been a lot of since we moved!) also make me renew my professional vows. As an educator, I don't get to talk politics at work, and I will never have anyone claim that I push my political views on my students. However, there are some universal truths that I will always teach and encourage: empathy towards others, the ability to debate and listen, how to allow yourself to change your mind in the face of new evidence. I feel fortunate that I get to help shape the thinking of the next generation, and I hope that my work ends in a more inclusive and collaborative world.
