https://arab.news/rg9zt
It is nearly 10 years since the unfortunate Brexit referendum of June 2016, which unexpectedly, and by a very narrow margin, led to the UK’s departure from the EU. One of the great follies of those who “designed” that referendum — driven in large part by complacency and arrogance — was the assumption that no rational nation would vote to abandon one of the most successful political experiments in modern history.
Voters were asked to give a simple yes-or-no answer — remain or leave — as if there could be a simple either/or response to such a complex relationship which would affect the lives of every UK citizen across multiple issues. The EU may not be faultless, but it served the British economy and society well for decades, since the UK joined the European Economic Community in 1973.
This week has seen a flurry of activity that could determine, between now and July, when an EU-UK summit is expected, the future nature of relations between the union of 27 countries and its former member. Britain’s current Labour government came into office in July 2024 promising to “reset” the UK’s relationship with the EU. However, in the best tradition of election pledges, it was rich in aspiration but notably sparse on detail, sidestepping many difficult questions.
