Euromost Editorial
Leaving On A Jet Plane To Pick Up The Pieces That Remain
The overwhelming rejection by 68% of the members of the British Parliament of the Brexit Deal conjured up by the European Commission and British Premier Theresa May will, in spite of it being inevitable, provide reams of copy for political commentators but the future is no clearer than when the referendum result was declared in June 2016.
Given that the former British Prime minster David Cameron had the foresight to abdicate you could ask why Theresa May chose to pick up the poisoned chalice that no other Conservative parliamentarian wanted. It seems incredulous that she was not aware of the divisions on Europe in her own party and to compromise these factions that she judged she could ameliorate the bureaucracy of the European Commission by negotiating a deal that similarly would serve the all Britain’s voters.
With the benefit of hindsight some critics might say she was power crazy or over confident. Others would say she though her intentions were honorable but she was not blessed with Machiavellian traits or a sufficient heavyweight in political terms to succeed. Whatever her motivation few people would argue that her appointment of David Davis as Brexit Secretary was, like her declaration of the last General Election, a good judgement. In stark contrast to his Prime Minster he was not looking for a compromise deal. His very evident disdain for the European Commission and his challenging modus operandi was not what was needed for an appointment requiring diplomacy. In politics alienating those you are seeking to resolve issues with really is not the way forward and serves neither your colleagues or country.
The present situation in the UK is very divisive but it has a consolation dividend which is arguably a democratic trend in European terms. A year ago the Romanian Government following peaceful street protests had relinquish its top down approach to introducing policies and how the country was run. In December following disruptive street protests the French Government was forced to do likewise. Now the British Parliament has after prolonged rowdy debates has made it clear that it is not there to rubber stamp a British Government policy which is only acceptable to a minority of members and voters.
The criticisms and positive aspects aside the British electorate still two and half years after the referendum do not know what Brexit means. A second referendum is advocated by people from across the political spectrum but only a fool would assume that the debate and arguments will cease whatever it’;s outcome. The European Commission will never change their position on the Irish backstop \and nor should they and anyway no British Mp wants an outcome the risks peace destabalising the peace process in Northern Ireland. This issue might be addressed in part if there was an extension to Article 50 which bypasses the need for transitional arrangements to enable the UK and the EU to agree the terms of their future relationship. That would require a sea change in the European Commission’s attitude and laws. This would be very difficult, take time for the Commission to orchestrate and very unlikely to happen without a change of Government policy in the UK.
The concept of a ‘no deal brexit’ from a voters perceptive is as tenable as asking turkeys to vote for Christmas but all is not lost. Euromost advocates that if every interested party thinks outside the box all is not lost. Please see the article ‘ The New Brexit No Back-Stop Deal’ on the link below. – then share it with your MP friends family and on social media platforms etc.
https://www.euromost.info/is-this-new-brexit-deal-for-everyone/