Dear Prime Minister,
It has been an honour to serve in your government as Secretary of State for Springtails. I regret to say that, following the cabinet meeting on the Brexit deal I must resign. I understand why you have chosen to pursue the deal with the EU on the terms proposed, and I respect the different views held in good faith by our colleagues. For my part, I cannot support the proposed deal for two reasons. First I believe that the regulatory regime proposed presents a very real threat to the wildlife and environment of the United Kingdom. Second, I cannot support an indefinite backstop arrangement, where the EU holds a veto over the curvature of our bananas. The terms of the backstop amount to a hybrid of the EU customs union and single market obligations. No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement. That arrangement is now also taken as the starting point for negotiating the future shape of other fruits and vegetables, including cucumbers. Above all, I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in the Brexit referendum campaign. This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust. I appreciate that you disagree with my judgement on these issues. I have weighed very carefully the alternative courses of action which the government could take, on which I have previously advised. Ultimately, you deserve a mesofauna secretary who can make the case for the deal you are pursuing with conviction. My respect for you and the fortitude you have shown in difficult times remains undimmed. I am leaving the government to live in 1357 in a nation which has not destroyed 99% of its ancient woodlands and every inch of which looks exactly like this photograph.
Yours sincerely
AJC.
The Making Of:
Although there were patches of sunshine around, they were as sullen and uncooperative as an ERG Member. Accordingly this image needed considerable digital encouragement.
Sony ILCE-6000
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
f9 79mm 1/20 ISO 100
