Brexit : The Way Forward
Regardless of whether you feel Brexit is the right thing to do or it was the biggest con job in the history of electoral swindles (am more this side), everyone can vehemently agree that things aren't going well
British businesses are screaming for clarity, banks have started the process of moving jobs to the continent and the pound is at 5 year lows (the chart below shows GBP vs INR)
It's also amazing to see how those who caused this to happen - Messrs Cameron and Farage prominent amongst those - have now vanished without a trace. As have the 350 mn per week which were meant to be plowed back to the NHS. Apparently the NHS Chief is about to ask for them officially in his budget for 2018-19. Negotiations between EU and Britain couldn't be going more badly. The well prepared EU laid down a three point agenda that clearly caught the ill prepared British side napping - and six months later, have yet to get a firm solution on either of them. Theresa May has offered only empty rhetoric - 'Britain will honour it's commitments' - without specifying any details as to which commitments and till when. The question of EU citizens and the Irish border have also not been put to bed. And Theresa May's ill-conceived election gamble, her weakened position, the chaos amongst the Tories (2 Minister's resigned this week alone) hasn't helped either
Was anyone actually aware of the consequences when they voted for Brexit last year ? Does Brexit really mean Brexit ? Is 'No Deal' even an acceptable option ? The EU is approx 16% of the Global economy, Britain (which is in the top 7 economies of the world) is 2%. 78% of British trade is with the EU while it's only 8% vice versa. No deal would be the equivalent of falling off a precipice but then most business groups have already warned the government of that.
All the above doesn't even touch upon how people will get affected on a personal basis. Currently an EU citizen can pretty much go to any country in the EU and choose to relocate with minimal paperwork, no permissions needed. The continent, btw, is where most Britons go for a break. Once those borders become more cumbersome, reality is going to sink in very fast.
What now ? There are 2 weeks to answer the three questions, else the mid-Dec EU summit will not give the go-ahead to begin the next stage of talks, which means it will be mid-March (the next summit) before the green light happens. As an aside, mid-March'18 will be a year since Brexit / and just a year before it comes into effect.
I truly think the Prime Minister has only one choice, one way to proceed ahead. And she must declare this to be the way forward within the next 2 weeks.
Declare another referendum, with three options on the ballot
- Brexit : No Deal : Chart out what No Deal means. A one pager which outlines the pros and the cons must be circulated to every Briton
- Brexit : Deal : chart out what this looks like, the divorce payment bill, the status of EU movement, the Irish border. Again, a one pager laying out what this entails, to be sent to every citizen
- No Brexit : turn back the clock, stay in the EU. Again - and unlike last time (when it was all simply prophecies of doom) - a reasoned one pager needs to be made which outlines the undeniable numerical advantages of staying in this powerful bloc. And circulate to all British citizens.
When Brexit was chosen, it was more a desire rather than a reasoned judgement. The British public has a right to choose again, with the three options, facts, numbers on their fingertips. God save the Queen...