I would suggest, Geoff, that the UK has done very little to stand up for either justice or human rights over recent years, and has instead chosen to erode its historical reputation quite considerably.

The option to modernise and restore its standing still exists. While the majority remain in the thrall of green benches, Black Rod and an absurd monarchy, the rest of society will constantly fail to live up to its potential.

It is far from the only country to have an unrealistic view of its past, present and future - my point here is that in fact most societies do so. Sadly, the trigger for a resetting of self-perceptions tends to come only after horrific implosion, normally - thought not always - self-induced.

Perhaps that was the point of Brexit - to destroy Britain so as to save it, to bomb itself back to the Stone Age.