Brexit Impasse
Brexit has created serious political stand-off, economic uncertainty and division in the society with increasingly ‘inflammatory rhetoric’. The parliament has not endorsed any of the Brexit deal Prime Minister Theresa May has negotiated with the European Union that has significantly increased political and economic uncertainty. While the Brexit impasse remains in the parliament, politicians and Police have said that the Brexit debate talks of ‘’treason and traitors’’ must be removed from political discussion to curb the politicians’ inflammatory rhetoric. This warning has come as the politicians used derogatory words and language in the Brexit discussions. Politicians have warned that new code of conduct is needed not to ‘inflame’ tensions created by Brexit. The far rightists’ racist rhetoric has also increased with the Brexit deadlock. The inauspicious and harsh language is not right and proper in the parliamentary practices of the United Kingdom which is said to be the mother of democracy as such conversation diminish the democratic values and norms.
Economic uncertainty in the world’s fifth largest economy- a country where parliamentary democracy, concept of globalisation, modern banking, finance and industrial revolution and free market was created- is preparing to leave the largest market for free movement of goods, services, capital and people. The entire Brexit campaign was launched with misleading simplicity without realising how it could affect the economy and create difficulties in business, jobs, manufactures, services and capital despite the warning by major business houses.
Firstly, the economic damages Brexit will cause is tremendous. The Airbus, the aerospace giant, which employees more than 124,000 people directly or indirectly says ‘’ the aerospace sector now stands at the precipice’’ as no deal Brexit will force to take harmful decision for the United Kingdom. Such warnings were conveyed to the politicians in Westminster by business sectors time and again. Siemens, EasyJet, Citigroup, Motor manufacturers, Schaeffler, fast food chains, Sony among others have warned that if there is no ‘’customs union, there are sectors of manufacturing society in the United Kingdom which risks becoming extinct. Some of the auto manufacturing including Nissan, Honda, Ford, BMW have said they were compelled to close down some or all of their plants due to Brexit uncertainty. According to the society of motor manufacturers and traders, this sector employees over 186,000 people.
Secondly, the finance and service sectors are the most successful areas in the United Kingdom. The Citigroup, which employees more than 214,000 people and does business in more than 160 countries, will be in crisis after the Brexit as many banks have either shifted out their operation from the UK or intend to do so after the Brexit.
Thirdly, the most serious issue related to Brexit is the integrity and sovereignty of the United Kingdom. Brexit’s Irish paradox remains the most key question. Northern Ireland along with United Kingdom will exit from the European Union, voters in the 2016 referendum were told ‘’will take control’’ of our borders, restrict the free movement of goods and people and discard EU regulations. However, the Good Friday agreement of 1998 created common Irish cross border institutions, removed the check points and watch towers between the Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which is a member of the European Union. Brexit cannot happen without violating the Good Friday agreement signed with the Irish Republican Army (IRA) fighting to make Ireland independent from the UK. One of the points of the agreement is that the Northern Ireland will have open border with Republic of Ireland with freedom of movement of goods and people. However, Brexit restricts this as Northern Ireland, part of UK, cannot have such freedom with EU member- the Republic of Ireland. If the Good Friday agreement remains intact, then Northern Ireland could stay aligned to the EU’s rule while the rest of the UK breaks away. Similarly, Scotland which voted massively to remain (62 percent) in the EU during the referendum in 2016, has said that it wants frictionless trade with EU. The issue of referendum for freedom of Scotland will remerge as 45 percent had voted to break away from the UK in 2014 Scottish referendum.
Britain is in quandary of Brexit which has divided the nation, created uncertainty and in the height of democratic dilemma. Journalist Thomas L Friedman aptly sums up Brexit dilemma as ‘’what we are seeing is a country, that is determined to commit suicide but can’t even agree on how to kill itself. It is an epic failure of political leadership.’’ French President Emmanuel Macron in an open letter has suggested that ‘’ the Brexit impasse is a lesson for us all. We need to escape this trap. …Together we chart the road to European renewal.’’ Unity of Europe is inevitable for liberty, democracy, human rights and prosperity of humanity.
