This was the day Travel fought back exceptionally.
I have discovered since returning to the UK last year after 13 years in Ireland that a sinister exceptionalism, dressed up as nationalism, stalks the island.
Our clarion call
Britain wants to be treated as an exception in the world from the continent in which the Ice Age determined it must lie.
And within that island its northern part is claiming that it should be treated as an exception.
On account of it having voted against Brexit.
Day of action
Scotland, meanwhile, is caught up in knots.
Because it had voted to stick with England not long before the Brexit referendum.
The separatists want now to reverse that poll which they put down to dirty tricks and misinformation…
Much like an offside goal at the Euros.
They hope that a second referendum which would be in the gift of an anti-vote Boris Johnson.
To free them from the UK.
They want to open the doors to readmission to the EU if only Spain fearful of Catalonian secession would remove their veto.
People power
Yes, I know what you’re thinking…
Is this not a Travel site, jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com and not jimmurtywafflewafflewaffle.com?
Quite right. Only that British exceptionalism is stopping us travelling while the land I left, European Ireland can.
So while the EU prepare to roll out its vaccine passport the UK pushes back its Freedom Day.
Scotland stand up
We’re going into next month, a Freedom which doesn’t contain any such document.
Those of us of a Scottish variety must wait until August.
Only then can we enjoy what we once claimed could never be taken from us… our Freedom.
As is the way with a controlling figure we are being seduced with the offer of something shiny.
To keep us happy in the meantime.
Hail Malta and the Balearics
Malta and the Balearics are being floated to be put on the Green List.
As welcome as that is we are particularly sore about this.
Because this is one situation where we promote exceptionalism.
We have long been advocating that there should be a special case made for the Spanish Islands.
So what about the Canaries? And the Greek islands?
For now, of course, our Travel sector must keep pressing our case.
Real freedoms for our exceptional Travel professionals and customers.
Yesterday was just the start, the day Travel fought back exceptionally.
MEET YOU ON THE ROAD
