Summary:
Theresa May’s Brexit deal for Britain to withdraw from the European Union has been
rejected by the UK Parliament for the third time on March 29, a last minute extension for
Brexit’s exit deadline has been announced at an emergency summit on April 10, with less
than 48 hours for Britain’s scheduled departure whether or not there was not a formal deal
made with the UK Parliament.
rejected by the UK Parliament for the third time on March 29, a last minute extension for
Brexit’s exit deadline has been announced at an emergency summit on April 10, with less
than 48 hours for Britain’s scheduled departure whether or not there was not a formal deal
made with the UK Parliament.
Pro Brexit demonstrators gathering for a speech by Nigel
Farage, a member of the European Parliament, in central London
on March 29
This new extension has set the deadline for Brexit to be on October 31, rejecting Prime
Minister Theresa May’s initial proposal to the EU for a shorter extension until June 30. The
prime minister proposed this in hopes of not only having a formal Brexit deal pass through
the UK Parliament by then, but to avoid the UK to participate in the European Parliamentary
elections. The “no deal Brexit” that would’ve been passed in less than 48 hours otherwise
would’ve caused serious economic damage to Britain along with a health crisis and border
chaos.
Minister Theresa May’s initial proposal to the EU for a shorter extension until June 30. The
prime minister proposed this in hopes of not only having a formal Brexit deal pass through
the UK Parliament by then, but to avoid the UK to participate in the European Parliamentary
elections. The “no deal Brexit” that would’ve been passed in less than 48 hours otherwise
would’ve caused serious economic damage to Britain along with a health crisis and border
chaos.
British Prime Minister Theresa May making a statement on
Brexit to the UK House of Commons in London on March 29
The EU concluded this agreeing that such a short a short deadline was unrealistic for Brexit
and that it was not enough time for Theresa May to persuade the UK Parliament to finally
pass through the Brexit deal and that they wanted to avoid more emergency summits. Not
only this, but the EU has more important topics to focus on in the future (such as the
nomination of a new European Commission president and a election of the new European
Council president) and they do not wish to spend all their time invested in one topic: Brexit.
"I think the extension should be as short as possible. But it should be long enough to create
calm, so we don't have to meet every two weeks to talk about the same subject,"German
Chancellor Angela Merkel told the German parliament as one of the many members of the
EU tired of directing all their attention into Brexit.
and that it was not enough time for Theresa May to persuade the UK Parliament to finally
pass through the Brexit deal and that they wanted to avoid more emergency summits. Not
only this, but the EU has more important topics to focus on in the future (such as the
nomination of a new European Commission president and a election of the new European
Council president) and they do not wish to spend all their time invested in one topic: Brexit.
"I think the extension should be as short as possible. But it should be long enough to create
calm, so we don't have to meet every two weeks to talk about the same subject,"German
Chancellor Angela Merkel told the German parliament as one of the many members of the
EU tired of directing all their attention into Brexit.
Donald Tusk, President of the European Council and the
President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker
"Please do not waste this time," European Council President Donald Tusk said after the
emerging from the negotiations on Thursday, telling British lawmakers to conclude on the
details on the UK’s planned departure from the EU. However, many of Theresa May’s
conservative party members still wish to negotiate the Brexit deal. As progress has been
slow and not much compromise has been made, May’s conservative supporters are holding
talks with her opposition Labour Party to settle on a agreement that can be passed through
the UK Parliament. Meanwhile, there have been some conservative party members that
have been asking for Theresa May to step down from the role of Prime Minister. She
previously promised to relinquish her leadership once the Brexit deal was passed through,
but did not seta date for it. “I know there is a desire for a new approach — and new
leadership — in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations — and I won’t stand in the
way of that," she told the members of the UK Parliament.
emerging from the negotiations on Thursday, telling British lawmakers to conclude on the
details on the UK’s planned departure from the EU. However, many of Theresa May’s
conservative party members still wish to negotiate the Brexit deal. As progress has been
slow and not much compromise has been made, May’s conservative supporters are holding
talks with her opposition Labour Party to settle on a agreement that can be passed through
the UK Parliament. Meanwhile, there have been some conservative party members that
have been asking for Theresa May to step down from the role of Prime Minister. She
previously promised to relinquish her leadership once the Brexit deal was passed through,
but did not seta date for it. “I know there is a desire for a new approach — and new
leadership — in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations — and I won’t stand in the
way of that," she told the members of the UK Parliament.
An Anti-Brexit Protester outside the UK Parliament in London
As for the United States, President Donald Trump supported Britain the night before the EU
negotiations of Brexit in Brussels, posting on Twitter: "Too bad that the European Union is
being so tough on the United Kingdom and Brexit. The E.U. is likewise a brutal trading
partner with the United States, which will change. Sometimes in life you have to let people
breathe before it all comes back to bite you!"
negotiations of Brexit in Brussels, posting on Twitter: "Too bad that the European Union is
being so tough on the United Kingdom and Brexit. The E.U. is likewise a brutal trading
partner with the United States, which will change. Sometimes in life you have to let people
breathe before it all comes back to bite you!"
Reactions:
As of right now, it seems unclear whether or not Theresa May will be able to pass through
the UK Parliament a Brexit deal. However, I feel like regardless of whether she succeeds
or not for a Brexit deal by the extended deadline of Halloween, Theresa May would rather
take a no-deal Brexit for the UK rather than no Brexit at all, but with the consequences of a
no-deal Brexit to UK economically, socially, and internationally being severe, I believe that
Theresa May will only go through a no-deal Brexit if she has no other option—which is if
she fails to get yet another extension for Brexit (which I believe is highly unlikely) and if she
fails to pass through a Brexit deal through the UK Parliament over the course of about 6
months from now. Personally, I would like the UK to go through with Brexit even though I’m
not directly affected by it just to be able to see how the UK and EU would handle the
situation once it’s over.
the UK Parliament a Brexit deal. However, I feel like regardless of whether she succeeds
or not for a Brexit deal by the extended deadline of Halloween, Theresa May would rather
take a no-deal Brexit for the UK rather than no Brexit at all, but with the consequences of a
no-deal Brexit to UK economically, socially, and internationally being severe, I believe that
Theresa May will only go through a no-deal Brexit if she has no other option—which is if
she fails to get yet another extension for Brexit (which I believe is highly unlikely) and if she
fails to pass through a Brexit deal through the UK Parliament over the course of about 6
months from now. Personally, I would like the UK to go through with Brexit even though I’m
not directly affected by it just to be able to see how the UK and EU would handle the
situation once it’s over.
Connections:
This reminds me of the fall of the Soviet Union—it almost in a metaphorical way seems like
the UK declaring independence from the EU just like many different territories of the once
powerful Soviet Union declaring independence to govern themselves as a country. Like the
UK if they leave Brexit, these countries will have their own self sustaining economy and
currency, and their economy won’t be as volatile and/or unstable if the decisions of another
country or person affects it. Additionally, for the Soviet Union, it was not one but multiple
countries that it split off into, considering that this reflects onto the European Union as well,
this may as well foreshadow more and more countries leaving the EU in the future, seeking
a more stable economy, instead of having to go through the financial crash in 2008 which
was caused by the unwise decisions made by other countries in the union, not by themselves.
the UK declaring independence from the EU just like many different territories of the once
powerful Soviet Union declaring independence to govern themselves as a country. Like the
UK if they leave Brexit, these countries will have their own self sustaining economy and
currency, and their economy won’t be as volatile and/or unstable if the decisions of another
country or person affects it. Additionally, for the Soviet Union, it was not one but multiple
countries that it split off into, considering that this reflects onto the European Union as well,
this may as well foreshadow more and more countries leaving the EU in the future, seeking
a more stable economy, instead of having to go through the financial crash in 2008 which
was caused by the unwise decisions made by other countries in the union, not by themselves.
Questions:
1. How likely do you think Theresa May will be able to pass through a Brexit deal through the
UK Parliament before the deadline of Halloween?
UK Parliament before the deadline of Halloween?
2. Assuming that the UK goes through a no-deal Brexit, how severely do you think they’ll be
affected, and will they be able to recover?
affected, and will they be able to recover?
3. Why do you think Theresa May is so persistent with trying to go forward with Brexit?
Additional Sources:
The New York Times
Even though Theresa May recently has been unable to pass through a Brexit deal through the UK Parliament, I think the new deadline of Halloween will give her enough time to reach an agreement with Parliament. Discussion of the benefits of the UK leaving the EU and becoming more sovereign may allow May to pass a Brexit deal. Assuming the UK goes through a no-deal Brexit, the consequences may be severe initially. According to the BBC, negative outcomes include an increase in prices of imports such as food and medicine (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-47470864). However, I think the UK will be able to recover as it it one of the most powerful countries in the world and can stabilize easily. I think May is persistent with trying to go forward with Brexit because she believes that leaving the EU is the right decision for the country. If she wants Brexit to happen, she has to fight for an agreement. If May fails to succeed with Brexit, she demonstrates a lack of leadership, an important quality needed in the role of prime minister.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Theresa May will eventually be able to pass Brexit. Despite the controversy over weather or not it is a good idea for Britain to partake in this, it is her job as head of Parliament to represent the wants of the people. The vote on Brexit made it clear that a majority of Britain wants Brexit to happen, so it would disrupt democracy if it doesn't. The people of Great Britain decided they wanted Brexit knowing it would be difficult to pass with the European Union, so they are hopefully prepared to do whatever it takes to make the deal happen. I believe Brexit is similar to the split of not only the Soviet Union, but the Ottoman Empire as well, although it is on a less drastic scale. Brexit probably wont signify the end of the European Union, or Britain; however, it still involves the splitting up of a larger government.
ReplyDeleteI think that Theresa May will pass the Brexit, but I am unsure about whether or not it will be at the expected date of Halloween because this is the third time the date has been moved, so there is a high possibility it is extended again. The reason I think the Brexit will come about is because of the overall UK relationship with the EU. The difference between Brexit and no Brexit is that the UK will be burdened by the EU while being a part of it, but have intel and relationships that they would lose otherwise. Leaving the EU short term looks like a terrible idea because of all of the business and relationship issues they would face. However, long term, the UK may be able to sustain a viable government that supports businesses, both big and small, and be suitable for private relationships. I think this is why Theresa May is pushing so hard for the Brexit, because current politicians see it from a long term loss perspective, while she is retiring directly after and is preparing for the long term influence on the UK. In a sense, this may mean that the independence she seeks may not be such a bad idea, especially since it won the majority vote. If passed, its viability truly depends on the steps to follow, which will determine whether or not it was truly a valuable decision.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the past track record of three rejections, the likelihood of a successful formal Brexit deal being made before a deadline seems unlikely. In fact I find it odd that an attempt for less time was made considering how necessary this extra time is for their own goal, Brexit. I also agree that it’d better that with a longer time frame, not as much effort in a short time is required with other things going on. Under the assumption that the UK goes through a no-deal Brexit, I believe that they will not severely be affected and continue on as things happen, all under the assumption another extension isn’t made. In the beginning maybe, however just like Alex said, it is a strong nation and would be able stabilize and support themselves easily. The main reason I think Theresa May is so persistent with trying to push Brexit is one, her obligation as Prime Minister to look for the interests of her people and country. For the country, nobody knows for certain, but the initial vote did show majority interest from the people so that’s reasonable. I also think that it plays into the sunk-cost fallacy where at this point, it’s already been so invested into, there’s no real reason to not fully waste such efforts.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point, due to the fact that Theresa May has tried to pass through a Brexit deal through the UK Parliament and that it has been rejected three times, I find it highly unlikely that it will get passed unless she makes a compromise. However, I believe Theresa May will take a no-deal Brexit rather than no Brexit at all even if it's highly detrimental to the UK economically, but she will try her best to avoid this as much as possible. However, if the UK ever does happen to have to go through a no-deal Brexit, I expect them to recover from this impact over a short period of time as I'm sure that the UK government does have a backup plan assuming that a no-deal Brexit goes through
DeleteThe likelihood of a Halloween Brexit deal is unlikely. Neither side has many any substantial compromises, and the EU's further involvement has only brought in more special interests. The whole idea of Brexit was sparked as a knee jerk reaction by the British people, and was based more on emotion rather than logistics, which is causing all these logistical nightmares. When the British people wanted out of the EU, they weren't thinking about their border with Northern Ireland, or the potential economic drawbacks - they just wanted out. And most of the problems involving the decision are based around that. The economic and political implications of Brexit were not taken into account when the decision was made. However, going through with a no deal Brexit is the worst possible option, as it leaves the EU and the UK in much worse economic states, in a time of instability in the EU. Theresa May needs to change her policy towards the issue. She's tried to do everything to hold steady onto her position, but so have the other parties. Perhaps it's time for compromise and diplomacy within Britain, or we could see Brexit around for a very long time.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that Theresa May will pass Brexit. I am uncertain that that it will be passed on Halloween because the date has been moved numerously times. I do not think it is a good idea for Britain to get involved. The EU will ultimately encounter issues with business relationships. Some benefits would be that they would have a sustainable government and gain support from businesses, big or small. I believe Theresa May want Brexit because of the long term benefits. Because this won majority of the votes, it may work out and play into what she wants.
ReplyDeleteA lot of Theresa May's dedication towards passing Brexit may have to do with her own image. Because Brexit would be such an impactful event, any attempt made by May to shy away from it could be viewed by the British people (especially those in favor of Brexit) as an act of weakness. May's conservative colleagues are generally big supporters of Brexit; she would likely lose their respect and support in the event of her halting Brexit plans. Already, more extreme conservatives in Parliament are unhappy with the current situation (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/28/world/europe/brexit-news.html). May, and any a politician, wants to be seen as a person of their word, no matter what that word may be. This can sometimes be an unfortunate fact for the nation, because it is very important for politicians to admit that they aren't correct or that there is potentially a better solution to any given situation. Ultimately, the government should be focused on making the best possible decision for the country and the people within the country; with the Brexit issue, all ruling parties appear to be engaged in an elaborate political dance rather than a straightforward search for solutions. Case in point-- the original article quotes a BBC reporter speculating that the extended October deadline might only create more entanglement instead of the opportunity for a more solid solution. According to BBC itself, political parties in Britain are hoping to use their stance on Brexit as a way to gain more votes come election season (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-39665835). Brexit has always been about more than just Britain leaving the EU.
ReplyDeleteI think that she would most likely have to make some compromises if Parliament doesn't like the current current terms. Either that or proceed without their approval which I think is a poor decision due to the severe consequences that would follow. I think that if she were to go with the no deal brexit, the would be able to deal with the consequences but I still think that it's very unnecessary. I think she is adamant on leaving the EU because of the mentioned trading difficulties that come with being a part of it.
ReplyDeleteEric L
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