The signing of the Brexit deal on 31st January 2020 has signaled the beginning of an 11-month transition period where Britain must sort out additional logistics such as trade, security, supply of water and electricity, etc.
Brexit has left the global community gripping to their seats. What began as a referendum to leave the EU by UK citizens in 2016, has escalated into a years long struggle that has only recently made advances to a solution. Many claim that the lengthy negotiation processes have been to no avail, and many cite this as the primary reason for why Theresa May resigned.
This ongoing struggle that still sees no clear end has sparked protests and outrage amongst the country, who some demand for effective withdrawal from the EU, whilst others request another vote to revise results. Either way, there has been persistent confusion on the root cause and future of Brexit, which this article hopes to address and clarify.
The History
Britain has historically been a global power. The expansion of the British Empire in the 20th Century and its eventual demise had left the impression that this country was a superpower to be reckoned. This sentimentality and worries amongst the citizens was the establishment of the anti-EU movement, eventually gaining popularity and reigning victory in the 2016 referendum, with 52% in favor and 48% against leaving the European Union. The official exit of Britain from the EU was enacted on 31st January 2020. But why did it take so long - nearly 4 years?
Britain was set to originally leave the EU by March 2019 with former PM Theresa May enacting Article 50 two years earlier in 2017. However, Theresa May's plan for Brexit was rejected three times by the Member of Parliament (MP), after which the former Prime Minister promptly resigned from her role.
The Opinions
Critics - Critics of Brexit believe that withdrawal of the Britain from the European Union will weaken its trade relations. Currently, 60% of UK exports are to countries in the EU or with EU trade agreements, due to the very minimal restriction places since the UK is a member country, and UK's withdrawal could signal less favorable trade conditions. Many claim that the referendum was 'illegitimate', because it granted lesser representation for states such as Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
Supporters - Supporters of Brexit claim that the EU is 'leeching the country's sovereignty', since the organization requires member states to place low tariffs and minimal border security for EU countries. Mass immigration from other EU states to the UK is said to have been a decisive factor for the stance of supporters, as well as UK's large sums of money provided to the organization that could be used for internal matters.
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