At this point, I'm starting to think that the only way to lance this particular boil is to go for the meanest, nastiest, hardest Brexit possible. There are a number of politicians, including our own PM, whose careers are defined by agitating for separation from the EU, and who will always agitate for such. There is too large a subset of the population that has bought into their narrative to ignore.
The problem with this agitation is it's more destabilising than simple hostility - they simply add doubt to every decision, and distort subjects just enough that Britain always ends up making half-hearted decisions instead of the bold actions it requires to address its own structural problems within the EU.
If the UK were to revoke article 50 and remain in the EU, the agitators will play their games over generations on a "betrayal" narrative, meanwhile giving our government licence to do nothing to fix its faults, as there's always the great demon of the EU to blame. If the UK were to leave in an orderly manner with any kind of deal, the agitators will find fault with it - no matter what happens to the UK after exit, it'll be painted as the EU's fault and a failure of "the deal."
Pretty much the only way to silence this group is to give them exactly what they want - good and hard, up to the hilt, without any lube, the hardest of hard Brexits, abandoned by the EU, sidelined by the Commonwealth and shafted by the USA*.
Only then can a suitably humbled Britain get over itself and its Imperial past and engage with its nearest and dearest in a humble and constructive manner.
Bring it on, and make it hurt!
