Fishy tricks

So, the latest Brexit plot twist we have been treated to is the sight of leading Brexiters dumping fish in the Thames as a protest against the agreement the government has (sort of) reached with the EU. Apparently it’s not good enough. Interestingly if those of us who have always opposed Brexit complain, we’re being unpatriotic. We lost, get over it. But the winners who have now found that winning isn’t all it cracked up to be, are allowed to complain left, right and centre. They wanted Brexit but not that Brexit.

I shall move swiftly over my disgust at the sight of these people dumping a highly nutritious food source in the Thames when there are people in the UK, in that very city, struggling to feed themselves and food bank usage is at a record high. Instead let’s dwell on the sheer lack of imagination political leaders have today. Chucking some fish overboard – come on, you can do better than that.

Let me take you back more than a thousand years to another leader, struggling to keep his grip on power who turned to fish to make his point. In 9th century Scotland, Cinaed (Kenneth) mac Alpin was finding it hard to control the men under his command.

So, what did he do? Allegedly he dressed himself up in fish skins, using the glittering scales or the phosphorescence still clinging to them to disguise himself as an angel and commanded them to do as they were told. * It worked, the men were awestruck by these divine commands and the rest, as they say, was history.

Now, that is what I call a fishy trick! Perhaps our current leaders should try something similar to bend Remainers and the EU alike to their will. And no, that is not a serious suggestion. But is it really much more ridiculous than rather a lot of what has been going on in the last couple of years?

*Presumably the rest of the fish was eaten, so no wastage!

 

 

 

The fish trick was not the only stunt Cinaed mac Alpin pulled to claw his way to power. The brave, the crazy, the ruthless and the bloodthirsty actions all feature in my first novel, Kenneth’s Queen[image error]

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