Classic example of Brexit escalation played out this week. By this I mean trivial issue meets unreasoning objection meets anger meets more anger; soon no doubt results in both sides declaring war.

Leavers: we'd like Big Ben to bong for Brexit

Civil Servants: can't be done

1/2

L: why not?

CS: £120k

L: but it's a bell!

CS: health & safety

L: you just hate having lost

CS: sorry, meant £500k

L: you despise democracy

CS: bigots side of a bus passports your voters are dead chlorinated chickens the bell rings over my cold corpse

2/2

NB after 3 years of this stream of hitherto unchallenged dinner party ear abuse, leavers can ad lib remoaner monologue at will

You can't give one good reason no don't say sovereignty Scotland will go suddenly I care greatly about the balance of trade why do you hate Europeans

What was it you hated so much about how we were why were you so unhappy why can't our children go to Europe now love knows no borders lower IQ voted leave you know well it's a fact indeed on facts we know a lot more now shouldn't we vote again and Russian bots Putin loves Brexit

In some ways it's actually quite cathartic.

But that's the quintessential thing that demonstrates how these conversations now go. The fact that the instant issue doesn't matter *at all* is the key part of this!