Brexit: Deal or no deal, in or out, UK has lost face terribly

On June 23, 2016, I lost my shirt when the United Kingdom (UK) in a referendum voted to leave the political and economic partnership of 28 European countries commonly known as the EU.

Brexit as it is popularly known, to the rational or naïve mind, was just not feasible. How would any sensible country ‘just’ leave a huge stable market in one of the most prosperous and developed parts of the world? Who would walk away from the stability and guarantees of such a vast common market? Who would ditch such a peaceful and tranquil stretch of opportunities, the model of alliance and supposedly good governance?

But it happened. With a voter turnout of about 71 per cent or about 30 million people, UK decided - 51.9 per cent voted to leave the EU while 48.1 per cent were defeated as they sought to remain. ‘The breakdown across the UK was England voted for Brexit, by 53.4 per cent to 46.6 per cent. Wales also voted for Brexit, with Leave getting 52.5 per cent of the vote and Remain 47.5 per cent. Scotland and Northern Ireland both backed staying in the EU. Scotland backed Remain by 62 per cent to 38 per cent, while 55.8 per cent in Northern Ireland voted remain and 44.2 per cent leave.’ (Sorce BBC.com).

UK invoked Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which grants nations and the EU two years to agree on terms of separation. Since then, there has been a lot of drama in this divorce. It turns out that the decision to leave was the easier part. It was prompted by a general good feeling of British nationalism spurred on by the jingoism of colourful populist politicians like Nigel Farrage and Boris Johnson, who played up to something akin to what is now known as popular culture.

On and on, they led the Brits down the garden path to what seemed like an El Dorado. They painted a picture of a nice and ‘pure UK’ without the burden of Europe, and its stringent liberal policies on sensitive issues like immigration.
Mark you, for all the years it has been in the EU, the UK unlike Germany, France and the other major European countries, kept out of the Schengen area deciding to issue their own visas. They also did not adopt the common currency, the Euro and instead insisted on the Pound Sterling.

This habit of branching out without serious consequences emboldened many to think that walking away outright would be a piece of cake.

Now the reality of extricating itself from the EU is setting in thick and fast. Many global brands like Credit Suisse, Barclays, Dyson, Bank of America Merril Lynch, Aviva, Airbus are making business decisions that would negatively affect investment and employment of the very people promised paradise by Brexit.

There is uncertainty on movement of people and most importantly, of British labour, goods and services in the vast EU market, once Brexit takes place.

So for the last two years the UK has been moving back and forth biting its nails on this issue as the cows came home, one by one.

UK now looks like the random guy who gave notice to leave his job, but soon realised that it would come with a high price. The health club membership would go. So would the free fuel and housing allowances. Medical insurance and the access to the office wi-fi would also cease!
The guy then starts negotiating to go but retain some if not all the privileges which came with the job from which he wants away.
This form of eating your cake and having it at the same time has exposed the UK so terribly. The once great conquer and coloniser of the world that was known as the vast powerful British Empire, a leading Security Council member with veto rights, the home of football and Cricket and solid global brands is now reduced to an undecided forlorn figure that presumably can’t stand alone and walk away.

French minister for European Affairs Nathalie Loiseau, joked that she named her cat ‘Brexit’ for it behaves like the UK; meows loudly to be let out of the house, but then stands at the door when it is allowed to leave.

It does not matter if the UK changes its mind and remains in the EU as is being suggested by millions signing petitions to do so or it sticks to the will of the people and leaves. The fact that it has been dilly-dallying is bad enough. A great power does not do that - at least publicly.

It says a lot about its resilience and self-assurance as a nation. Now this is a super power we are talking about. Well, even the mighty fall. The UK has been caught blinking. It has lost points that it will never regain.

In the interim, me thinks that the UK should swallow humble pie and admit that Brexit was not a well thought out idea and time has told them so. They have the biblical story of the prodigal son to learn from.
Insisting on Brexit is rolling further in the mud.

Mr Sengoba is a commentator on political and social issues.

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Twitter:@nsengoba