Brexit is a triumph of English nationalism and jingoism. It is nothing to celebrate

A triumph of right wing demagoguery driven by ignorance and bigotry — an emotional reach back in time to a supposed golden age when Britannia ruled the waves, Johnny Foreigner knew his place, and the Union Jack flew wherever it damn well pleased — this is Brexit.

Britain is today a country in which xenophobia, anti-migrant hostility, nativism and ethno-nationalism enjoy mainstream currency, where before they existed on the margins. That Brexit also constitutes an act of enormous economic self-harm and will have the effect of turning Britain into a dumping ground for American exports and in terms of the ‘special relationship’ will see Britain go from being a poodle at Washington’s feet to a handkerchief in Washington’s pocket, clearly none of this matters in the hearts and minds of those caught up the emotional throes of unbounded flag-waving, chest-thumping patriotism.

Indeed, the unedifying sight of Nigel Farage and his Brexit Party colleagues waving little Union Jacks on the last day in the European Parliament for UK MEPs tells us everything we need know about Brexit. It is a victory for Little Englanderism and national chauvinism; and therefore how fitting and symbolically powerful was it that it fell to Irish MEP and Speaker of the European Parliament, Mairead McGuinness, to…