When camping in France I’m usually tucked up in my sleeping bag reading a book on my Kindle by 9.30pm, sleep like a log, and then get up early. Whereas now I’m home again I find myself in the midst of a Groundhog Day repeat of sorts. TV or radio, newspaper or internet, familiar phrases stalk me like a re-occurring nightmare: Brexit means Brexit - People have spoken - The will of the people. Well, diddly squat, nothing much seems to have changed since I left these shores in mid May. Except there’s a new PM in Number 10. Though one can’t help but wonder for how long... My goodness, it’s depressing. And how many want to Go Cherry Picking, Have Their Cake and Eat it, or Go into Battle now? Gavin Esler once said something to the effect “hackneyed phrases highlight the emptiness at heart.”

Currently it’s Dilyn the Jack Russel puppy I feel sorry for. Rescued from almost certain death, ferried to a lovely foster home, then launched into Number 10 - which might not be home for much longer. I’ve always thought animals, like babies, do best in calm, not chaotic, surroundings - but then I doubt whether Dilyn is permitted to enter the Cabinet Room...

Hopefully, at the end of each working day Boris finds time to drop onto all fours and play a game of catch-the-squeaky-toy-if-you-can with young Dilyn. Not only might it soothe Boris’s furrowed brows, but it probably beats cat-and-mouse games with all his now-whipped Tory rebels. (Wouldn’t be allowed to whip Dilyn.) Dilyn might be exactly what Boris needs... but then, one asks, what exactly is it that our nation needs?

The British Nation is on a Go-Round (and I’ve not missed out the word Merry by mistake). If we are catapulted into an election very soon will it stop our national Go Round RE Brexit? I suspect not: because I’m not sure voting for a political party will deliver a magical mandate which the government of the day can implement. No, I fear the Go Round might merely drag on. And many of us may vote for a political shade with which we are uncomfortable in order to effect a personal Brexit statement: I’m not sure that’s right or proper.

The 2016 Referendum was of such national importance perhaps super majority rules should have been applied. Interestingly, New Parliamentary Assembly Guidelines within the Council of Europe propose to ensure future fair referendums. Quote: “in some countries recent referendums have raised concern about the process and/or the fairness of the outcome. Referendums should not be used to override the wishes of parliament or be intended to bypass normal checks and balances. Referendums should not allow major changes to be pushed through without careful reflection and, as far as possible, broad support.”

Normally a referendum is ‘won’ when a point of 50% + 1 of valid votes is reached. But “super majority” requirements of 60% ensure - when huge changes are under national consideration - a critical level of broad support be attained.

There would not, in the case of our 2016 referendum, have been sufficient votes to take us out of the EU using super majority criteria. And had there been, dare I suggest Brexit wouldn’t have been such a dog’s (read Dilyn’s) dinner...