If only Brexit were fiction! by Jo Carroll

I've followed British politics for decades - often with mixed feelings and complex opinions. The House of Commons shenanigans seem to veer from comically farcical set-pieces (Prime Minister's Questions) to the momentously important ... dare I mention it ... Brexit.

This is not the place to explore the rights and wrongs of any decisions. But I have, as a writer, been intrigued by the process - and what we can learn from it.

We can think of it in terms of a traditional three-act structure:

Act One:

• the decision to hold the referendum
• the campaign, with lies told and believed (by some)
• the crisis: the result and resignation of the Prime Minister
• resolution: we have a new Prime Minister

Act Two:

• the triggers of Article 50, separation discussions begin
• the apparently insurmountable problem of the border with Ireland rears its head. (No one explains why this was not noticed at the campaign stage, even though 'ordinary people' had raised the issue)
• undeterred, the Prime Minister presses ahead, she has a strategy, it will be fine.
• crisis: it will not be fine, members of her cabinet resign.
• resolution: the Prime Minister rallies, appoints new ministers, it will all be fine.

Act Three

• Into the final negotiations. The stakes are high - for both sides.
• As I write, the shambles is unresolved. So, as a writer, I have two possible endings to play with:

1. Talks fail - there is an apocalyptic breakdown which leads to total collapse/the dawn of a new Britain (delete as applicable)
2. Talks succeed, there is a compromise that pleases no one but avoids the apocalypse.

Is there room in all that for a second referendum?

And please - no dystopian Act Four.

I don't write dystopia. Or even political fiction. But you'll have to The Planter's Daughter to see if it conforms to a three-act structure. My travel writing, given that it's non-fiction, can take you anyway. Check out my website for more about the travel.