Breixt is a collapsing illusion: just like London Bridge in the eyes of foreign tourists and English children

By George ILIEV
Brexit Metaphor No 140 

When tourists come to London, a key landmark they want to see is London Bridge. However, most of them end up disappointed when they find out what the true London Bridge is. The fancy bridge they would have known from photos and posters is not London Bridge; it is Tower Bridge. While London Bridge in its current iteration is probably the most ordinary bridge over the Thames (see photo).

Brexiteers imagine Brexit as the glorious Tower Bridge of Britain's imperial past: unbounded sovereignty, no payments to any foreign bodies, free trade across the Continent. But Brexit is actually London Bridge: an illusion that can only exist when viewed from afar; but which collapses upon closer inspection. 

The collapsing London Bridge is not only a recent Brexit phenomenon. It features in a famous nursery rhyme (below). The only question is will Theresa May manage to come out as the "fair lady" from this shambolic mess?

London Bridge is falling down,

Falling down, falling down,

London Bridge is falling down,

My fair Lady.

London Bridge and the City of London, 2005 (Source: Wikipedia)

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Notes:
1. Timeline: This article is part of a series of original #BrexitMetaphors published daily. A total of 140 have been posted so far and another 21 Brexit Metaphors will be published every day until the planned Brexit date of March 29, 2019.
2. Disclosure: The author has a master's degree in European Integration. He also thinks he knows a bit about business, economics, entrepreneurship, China, history, geography, nature, science and Rubik Cubes.
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