—
When I wrote the Morning Briefing last week while my friend and colleague Stephen Kruiser took a much-needed day off, I mentioned that I was listening to the audiobook of Boris Johnson’s memoir “Unleashed.” One section of the book where he discussed the 2016 Brexit vote struck me.
Hebeganbytalkingabouthowhehadbeentravelingthedayofthevoteandhadtoscramblehometovotebeforethepollsclosed.EveryonewasbracingthemselvesforaRemainvictory,butthingsbegantochangeasthenightworeon.
Thepollswerewrong.Thebookmakerswerewrong.Themarketswerewrong.EvenNigelFarage,theleaderofanunofficialandunconnectedcampaigncalledLeaveUK,waswrong.He,forsomereason,hadconcededdefeatearlierintheeveningonthebasisofsomerumorthatsweptthecity.
Itturnedoutthattherewasapoolofpeople,avastpool,whohadbeentouchedbythedebateinawaythattheywerenevertouched,nevertouchedbynormalpolitics. HowoftenintheyearsthatIwaswritingeditorialsfortheDailyTelegraphhadIquotedthoseoldlinesofG.K.Chesterton:
Smileatus,payus,passus;butdonotquiteforget;
ForwearethepeopleofEngland,thatneverhav
