56/2019 Broxit- an acceptable solution for everyone's good Essential information Places to visit Attractions by theme lesues & institutions S=E gm About-Britain.com ‘on your mobile A solution to the Brexit crisis - away towards common ground > You ar here: About-Briain.com » Institutions.» Britain and the EU. (TS etn tet at your eee Read more : Brexit: what has happened since the Referendum? See the road to Brexit: a chronology of evel Hard Brexit or Soft Brexit ? A no-win situation. In spite of the referendum result, Brexi, iit happens, is sure to dissatfy a majority of people in the UK. Before the referndum, nobody ever clearly explained what “Brexit" meant. Indeed, many Brexiteers deliberately avoided doing so, as nobody could define Brexit. Brexit meant different things to different people. “Brexiteers" are divided into two camps, the hard Brexiteers and the soft Brexiteers... and hard and soft Brexit are ver different ideas. ifthe hard-liners win the argument, soft Brexiteers will be devastated if Brexit actualy takes place. Ifthe soft-Brexiteers win the argument, and the UK leaves the EU but remains in the European Single Market (a larger entity), the hard Brexiteers will erupt into an explosion of fury, claiming that the "democratic decision of the people" has been overridden. For Theresa May and her government, there can be no Brexit solution that satisfies a majority of the population. The May government isin a no-winsituatior If anyone seriously imagined that the Brexit referendum would put an end to the bitter divisions in the UK over Europe, they were either naive or hopelessly out of touch. Far from setling the issue, the referendum result has exacerbated the divides. Before the referendum, it was at least possible to have a national discussion in Britain about the advantages and disadvantages of leaving the | Abdu ron com uses cools, and by contmung on our st, you accapt is. To rmove ts massage cick LABS or otherwise click for mer https J/about-britain.convinsttutions/orexit-solution-possible.htm 1456/2019 Broxit- an acceptable solution for everyone's good ‘out of the EU. From the Prime Minister down, pro-Brexiteers seek to brand all opposition to their plan as "undemocratic", while endlessly repeating the mantra of the "clear mandate” delivered by the "people" on June 23rd. In reality, the mandate was neither clear, nor was it even a mandate ; worse stil it was a result given on the basis of misinformat and a hopeless misunderstanding of the issues by many ordinary people. It was not “clear”, because a majority of 51.9% is not a clear mandate — itis the sign of a nation divided almost down the middle. And it was not a “mandate”, because the result of the Referendum was "advisory", not "mandatory”. This is not the way democracy is supposed to work. But don‘ try saying that to Britain's right-wing media or even to the Prime Minister. When businesswoman Gina Miller set up citizens’ group to appeal to the English High Court against Theresa May's decision to activate Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty (to tal Britain out of the EU) without first getting the approval of Parliament, she won her case, A panel of Britain's highest judges found it Tavour. ‘The next day, not just Ms. Miller, but the Judges too, found themselves the targets of vitriolic and even racist abuse in parts of Britain's largely pro-Brexil press, and on internet sites, The right-wing Daily Mail produced a full page 1 spread, calling the judges "Enemies of the people” , while the once-respectable Dally Telegraph said it was a case of "the judges against the people”. The rit wing "Sun" newspaper claimed that the case represented the work of a “foreign elite” defying the "will of British voters. Press coverage of the event deeply divided opinions in the Conservative party, with one Conservative MP calling it “chilling” (very alarmit hile ultra conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg as well as Theresa May defended “freedom of the press” ‘Among the most fundamental rights in a democracy are the right to disagree, the right to contest what others are doing, and the ‘of people to change their minds, to have second thoughts. Only in fascist or communist dictatorships are people not allowed to disagree, to contest decisions, or encourage others to change their minds. Yet the Bri'sh government is plunging blindly forward towards Brexit on its mantra of a “clear mandate", and the right-wing popular press scream insults at anyone who dares to call for: ‘new referendum, or even just for MP's to be given the right to vote on how to work towards the biggest constitutional change in rec British history, before it happens. (On the far right in Britain, there are a few powerful people — elected MPs and unclected media tycoons — who, for ideological reasons want lo take Britain out of the European Union al any cost ~ the so-called "hard Brexit” option. There are others in the wo of industry and business who would lke to see Britain leave the European Union, but do not want Britain to leave the European Si Market (the borderless trading block that is bigger than the EU itself). And there are many more people, perhaps now over half the population, who think that the whole idea of leaving the EU is either crazy or far too risky. In.a democracy, the arguments must be able to continue, most particularly on a subject like Brexit which is a one-way ticket out Europe, with no return. There are some in Britain who want to stile that argument, and for whom Brexitis Brexit, and the only poss way forward, But this is not the case, Other solutions have to be possible, ‘On June 23rd, 52% of British voters said yes to Brexit. They did not want to remain in the European Union as it now (though a fair number have since changed their minds). There are two completely legitimate solutions to this dilemma. The first one is to trigger Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, and for Britain to leave the EU rapidly. The second one is give the EU a clear time frame to answer Britain's grievances, or not answer them. Thon, a new referendum can settle the matter. This is not a whimsical keeping Britain in the EU, than in precipitating a Brexit, given that Brexit could well do more damage the EU as. an institution and to other countries in Europe, than to the UK - which is not in anyone's interest. Britain and Europe - a common interest If Btn does end up leaving the European Urion, we areal likely to be losers; however the biggest loser could well not be Bite but the EU. I rex goes ahead, it wil pu te EU ina no-win situation, as there can be ne winning outcome for the European Union. ven f thee is one forthe UK Deciding on Btn’ tons of ext wl crete a massive dilemma for Europe's leaders who wil need to choose which isthe lesse two evils: helping Bain achieve a successful Bret, or ding nothing to help and allowing the Brish economy fo fter and possit gp into recession Whichever way they choose, the 27 remaining counties wil be giving themselves a poisoned chalice, as either solution bodes ® forthe European Union. Looked at nthe cold ight of day thoe is only one win-n way out of this csi, and that is or the EU fo everythin fo make sue that Brext does not happen; and on tis, the intrest of stably, of he UK, and ofthe EU ae identical For this to happen, Theresa May, the new British Prime Minister, and the European Commission will need to work closely togeth« find a solution that is able to satisfy a sufficient number of those in Britain who voted for Brexi, and also the leaders and voters in other EU countries, Itwill not be easy; whatever solution is proposed, there willbe a radical fringe of Brexiteers, Frexiteers, Grexiteers, and far-right voters and Euro-fundamentalists who will complain — loudly — that its too litle or too much. But a consensus solution that can get approval of the majority of Britain's voters, and of Europe, without the need to provoke Brexi, looks likely to be one of the only saf and face-saving ways out of the current crisis, By all accounts, in terms of safeguarding the economic future of Britain and Europe, the least risky ofall possible solutions. And itis one of the few scenarios that has the capabilly of healing the bitter divides not jc Britain, but in the EU too. ‘The avout ertsin.com uses cookies, and by continuing on ur sl, you Betept is, To remove his message cick [Agsapt] or chemise cick fo https J/about-britain.convinsttutions/orexit-solution-possible.htm 2456/2019 Broxit- an acceptable solution for everyone's good + to bring together the three sides (Remainers", soft-Brexiteers and hard-Brexiteers) in a deeply divided country, and + to find a way out ofthe Broxit crisis between Britain and the EU, {A simple enactment of Brexit will nat bridge the divides in Britain; it will exacerbate them, ‘A*hard Brexit” will anger not just Remainers, but also those who wanted a *soft Brexit" and a soft Brexit will anger both the Remainers and those who wanted a radical hard Broxit Whatever solution is finally adopted, it will not please everyone — that much is certain. So the British government's task must be to find the way forward that will in the end satisty the largest possible majority of people in Britain. This will involve either finding a satisfactory future place for the UK outside the EU in which Britain's privileged trading links are ‘maintained (the "soft" Brexit), or else continued membership of the EU under new terms. Either solution will require concessions from both the UK government and Europe. However, since it would be neither in Britain's interest nor in the European interest for the UK to leave the EU simply to continue operating as a priveleged external partner, imagining a future role for the UK outside the EU giving us the advantages without the drawbacks smacks of wishful thinking. It follows from this that the only realistic solutuion that will reconcile the two priorities will be a solution that sees the UK remaining in the EU — but under changed terms of membership. Finding the right compromise will nt be easy; however it will be highly desirable not just {or Britain and for Europe too. The British and the Europeans have a very strong interest in Taree Mey ew Bre Prine finding a workable solution, otherwise the future could be very bleak on both sides of the Channel. Prime Minister Theresa May st have every personal interest in finding a way out of this crisis without enacting Brexit, as she wil surely prefer to go down in history the Prime Minister who saved Britain and Europe from potential disaster, rather than the Prime Minister who actually signed the document to plunging Britain into a very uncertain future, Convineing the British Convincing the Britsh electorate though not the media) that we have every intertin delaying Brexit and giving the EU a chance respond to our grievances, wil be the easier ofthe two tasks. Many are already convinced. Since the referendum, in addition to th 48% of Britons who voted to remain, a nor-negigible proportion of those who voted in favor of Brext would appear to have change their minds. These are some of the many people who did not actualy vote against Europe as an institution, but against ts way of operating, against the “uncontrolled” immigration caused by toll freedom of movement between counties, against European bureaucratic petifoggery and perceived intervention in the sovereign affairs ofthe country if these complaints can be addressed by the EU before Briain activates Article 50, then May wil be able to call a new referendun based on a new situation - or simply explain thatthe demands ofthe Briish public have been met, and that Britain wil not therefor exit the European Union, There willbe no reason to leave. The splenetic right-wing hard Brexit fundamentalist popular tabloid newspapers, the Daily Mail, the Daily Express, and the Sun, regularly explode with vitriolic indignation when anyone suggests havi second referendum; they will go into overdrive if and when Brexitis delayed or cancelled, But these newspapers have absolutely r mandate whatsoever to dictate how Britain should be run. Inthe meantime, Mrs. May will have to take the very bold step of announcing a one-year or two-year delay in the activating ¢ Brexit, o give the EU sufficient time to meet Britain's grievances. The right-wing media will howl with indignation again if she does because they want Brexit, they want it hard, and they want itnow; but the Government must be strong enough to ignore them. This where Parliament can usefully come in . The ant-Brexit media understand this absolutely, which is why they howled with such indignation at the ruling in the English High Court on 4th November, that Parliament must be consulted. Parliament will be able to ease the Prime Minister's way by voting to delay any possible activation of Article 60 of the Lisbon Tre ntl after the EU has had a reasonable period of time to address the grievances that are shared not just by many in the UK, but millions more throughout the EU. In so doing, Parliament would be both affirming ils sovereignty, and exercising its duty to act in w. ‘sees to be the best interests of the nation; and the PM would have a specific mandate to present to the European Union. Convincing the EU Convincing Europe's leaders will be harder, but it should not be in impossible task — quite the contrary. The fist priority willbe to stress thatthe consequences of Brext could be just as disastrous for Europe as for Britain... if not more so. Until 23rd July if there was consensus in the EU on one matter, i was that all EU countries wanted Britain to remain pat of the Union; Britain was portrayed as a vital member, a diplomatic heavyweight for the EU, a key member for EU relations with other par the world. There is no reason why, since 24th June, any ofthis should have changed, apart from frustration with Britain's Brexit vot and a commonly held belief thatthe result ofthe Brexi vole was binding ~ whereas it was just advisory Furthermore unti June 23, al counties of the European Union agreed thal a Brexit would seriously weaken the EU. Since then, some EU leaders seem to have gone into denial, urless these are ust frustrated soundbites to appease audiences at home. Thus the next Prime Minister's task should be less a matter of convincing our partners that it would be good for us if we were to remain in the EU, than one of convincing them a British exit from the EU could be catastrophic for them, whatever happens ater Of course, diehard Eurocrats may balk at this. In the mistaken belief that sounding tough or sticking to principles is the best solu many EU polticians havo called forthe UK to Bo ected from tho European Union as soon as possible; but pushing the UK out of EU wee foot, | avout ertain.com uses cookies, and by continuing on our sl, you Becept his, To remove his message cick [Agcapt] oF oherise cick f https J/about-britain.convinsttutions/orexit-solution-possible.htm 314