Political column – October 25

And if we crash out over the cliff edge, could it be a springboard?

Brexit has introduced us to a whole new use of the English language, with its own brexicon, and that includes of course the B word itself.

It is a language in which meaning is whatever you might want it to mean. Phrases like "customs union," which only a short time ago nobody had heard off, now trip off the tongue.

The customs union is either: a. A EU free trade arrangement; or b. An anti free trade EU cartel.

Meanwhile an end game might prove to be a transition.

Time then for the fundamental linguistic question, which is relevant in the light of the People's Vote campaign (or "so-called People's Vote" campaign), which had such an impressive turnout in London (i.e. Remain Central).

What does "Leave" mean?

The premise of the campaign is that when a majority of those who voted in the 2016 referendum put their tick against Leave, they didn't know what Leave meant, and were embarking on a journey without knowing the destination.

As a result of the tortuous negotiations, voters are now in a better position to judge the meaning of Leave.

So that's why those at the rally were chanting (in my imagination): "What do we want? A PEOPLE'S VOTE! When do we want it? BEFORE BREXIT! What will be the question? WE'LL LET YOU KNOW!"

At least we have some idea of what the question might be. Tom Baldwin, the director of communications for the People's Vote campaign, told Any Questions: "It would probably be a binary question, but we are not ruling out a three-way question.

"It would either be, depending on the circumstances, Theresa May's bad deal or no Brexit, or if her deal has failed and Parliament has rejected her deal, it would be no deal or no Brexit."

To remove any doubt, if Theresa May does strike a deal with the EU, here is what Mr Baldwin says he wants to be put to the people in a new referendum: "It would be her deal, or stay in the European Union."

So for hard line Brexiteers who think Theresa May's deal does not respect the referendum result the choice in effect will be – Do you want: a. No Brexit? or b. To Remain in the EU?

At the London rally Mayor Sadiq Khan said: "People didn't vote to leave the EU to make themselves poorer."

This ignores what is consistently ignored in the debate. You could put it like this: "It isn't the economy, stupid."

Voters in 2016 received such dire warnings about the economic consequences of a Leave vote that it is reasonable to suppose that other considerations came into play when they went to the voting booth.

As for Labour, Sir Keir Starmer is a shadow Brexit secretary who doesn't believe in Brexit. And his conference-pleasing position is that if the party cannot force a general election over Brexit, then "all options are open."

How can having a blank sheet of paper be the same as having a policy?

Somebody needs to get a grip on the language of Brexit. Otherwise we'll be up the gum tree without a paddle.