The term “instability” doesn’t feel adequate enough to describe the current state of British politics ever since the result of the referendum on whether or not Britain should leave the European Union was announced, leading to a seemingly never-ending debacle of head-scratching and nerve wracking negotiations to see what type of relationship Britain will have with the EU when it supposedly leaves the European bloc on 29th March 2019, 2 years following the triggering of Article 50 on the Lisbon Treaty on 29th March 2017 , which had started the withdrawal process of Britain from the EU.
Overseeing and dealing with Brexit might seem simple at hindsight, but the reality is extremely different. Many within the UK are still of the opinion that they did not know what they were voting for and what Brexit would entail, while others see the obstructions taking place as a means of derailment to Brexit actually occurring and as a sign of disrespect towards the majority of the British people who voted in favour of Britain leaving the EU. Some British politicians want what is being considered a ‘soft Brexit’, where the UK will retain some of the benefits of retaining a close relationship with the EU such as membership of the Custom’s Union, the Single Market and giving concessions on the free movement of people and preserving the rights of EU citizens to live and work in the UK. This concept is being largely perceived as a betrayal of the referendum result as it leans more towards the opinions of pro-Remain politicians and indicates an “ you can have your cake and eat it” mentality from the soft Breixteer’s.
Many, even from within the Conservative Party which she leads, were quick to call for Theresa May’s resignation, have a motion of no confidence presented in her or even to call another early general election. Other news which added more fuel to the fire for Brexiteer’s was Theresa May announcing her intention to keep the UK under the jurisdiction of EU laws for another 21 months, since the European Communities Act of 1972, which had officially brought the UK into the EEC (the European Economic Community, which was what the EU was referred to at the time), will only be appealed until after the transition period after Brexit takes place end on 31st December 2020 , and not right after the UK’s departure from the EU. Other news which emerged were reports that the British governments was seriously considering stockpiling food and medical supplies in the case that no final agreement is reached between the UK and the EU , only adding more uncertainty to the gravity of this crisis.
The true crisis with Brexit however , lies in fact that so little is known about what Brexit will actually contain for Britain and the rest of Europe , as there has been no concrete clarification of what precise measures will be put in place and what type of Brexit will be put into practice. These events only left more questions un-answered than it did provide certainty about the future of the UK when it leaves the EU, as the political crisis mounting across the UK continued to add more chaos and division to the political framework which will determine Brexit’s destiny.
Written by: Jacob Callus
A Bird's Eye View 