Britain is Soon to Leave the EU
Britain is set to come crashing out of the European Union (EU) in a matter of days or weeks. A friend asked me at the weekend what my opinion on Brexit was and I had to admit I didn’t have a clear answer. Other friends had joined the Peoples Vote March in London the day before, but I wasn’t bothered, thinking that the protest would only add to the ongoing shambles rather than decrease it.
Without keeping a close eye on the political news, I have recently unavoidably overseen glaring headlines stating that MPs were voting on whether they wanted to back Theresa May’s deal or delay Brexit. To be honest, I am simply confused as to the process and where we are headed but my inkling is that it is as terrible an idea now as it ever was.
A Quick Look at the EU
Apart from a few wobbles, up until 2016, there had been overall economic convergence within the EU due to increased integration. According to the Europa website ‘the bigger the EU, the greater the catalytic effect of integration’. The EU used to maintain that the economy of ‘old’ member states (which includes the United Kingdom) benefited from increased competition and personal mobility. At the same time, newcomer countries to the EU could expect up to 1% more growth each year from membership and rising standards of living and quality of life.
The goals of the European Union include (but are not limited to) doing the following:
- promote peace, its own values and the well-being of its citizens
- offer freedom, security and justice without internal borders
- combat social exclusion and discrimination
These three all seem totally laudable and make complete sense to creating a harmonious and just society within the world’s largest trading block. Many commentators
‘Human dignity is inviolable. It must be respected, protected and constitutes the real basis of fundamental rights.’ – Europa Website
Exploring what the EU means by Dignity
Dignity here is used as the keystone in the arch of rights that those of us fortunate enough to live in the developed countries of the West assume are granted at birth. This arch supports us to lead our lives free from abject terror or tyranny. Rights are not something we enter the world with but are conferred on us by individuals and social structures through religious, political and legal institutions.
I think that the notion found within the EU’s main self-description, that there is something of value within every human being, is inspirational. It posits that every member of the community has something to contribute, they are given rights and these are protected by an overarching framework of Law.
I am speaking for myself here, but I don’t feel like the United Kingdom as a political entity currently offers anything as lofty as that – it seems parochial, a relic of a bygone age, the heartlands of a historic outdated empire.
For sure, the British Empire had its highs and lows, it brought new technologies, democracy and common law to many far-flung corners of the globe just as it extorted and exploited those people outside of its direct control (during the opium wars for example). However, the remnant of that ‘Empire’ is a country which has been in a steady decline for just over a century.
The Verdict
So what is my opinion on Britain leaving the EU? I think it’s a big mistake, a step backwards and from what I can tell the process itself has been handled badly. Usually, I try not to be pessimistic, I practice mindfulness and acceptance, and generally, believe that my tiny scale peace will radiate outwards. I genuinely hope that Britain can prosper outside of the EU but I’m preparing for some tumultuous times.