There are few glaring events that will go down in history as the defining geopolitical events of this century. Great Brittan’s recent results from a referendum heldon on June 23, 2016 to decide if it should leave the European Union (EU) is one such glaring event. Brexit, the acronym for this referendum, is synonymous with the contemporary populist sentiment supporting nationalism, economic autonomy, curbing immigration, and defying elitist politicians who do not understand the reality of the working classes. As a result of feelings of lost power and economic insecurity by the working class people, the citizens of Britain voted 52% to 48% to leave the EU in hopes of industrial reform. It was a surprise even to those who voted yes to the referendum. Britten has a new Prime Minister, Theresa May, who still needs to work out how the exit will be negotiated within a two year time period. While many Brits believe leaving the union will give back hope to Britain as a country that the EU had taken away, there remain several issues from this vote that have created great uncertainty in Britain and in the world at large. First, the memorandum is being challenged in court, because it should have been an act of parliament. This will delay the Prime Minister’s initiation of the Article 50 process that parts Britten from the EU. Second, Britten is divided over the result; those who voted against leaving (the urban elite and younger workers) feel betrayed by the older workers who they
In recent years, it has been increasingly apparent that European Parliament election turnout is on the decline, with just 35.6% of British citizens casting their vote in 2014. This is remarkably low, especially when viewed alongside other national decisions such as the referendum for Britain to leave the European Union, which received a staggering 72.2% turnout. However, this decline was not
The European Union was initially set up as a means to terminate the conflict that occurred within Europe throughout the 20th century, culminating with the end of The Second World War (WWII) and The Cold War that followed. The EU ultimately aimed to bring the member countries together in order to form an ‘ever closer union’ between the countries of Europe, thus preventing a future battle. The Union started as the European Economic Community (EEC), which was established in 1957, and over the years endured numerous adjustments to form the politico-economic union that we know of today.
With diminishing control of what happens in Britain, the British people decided it was best to vacate the union. The British were dealing with the laws given by the European members who were not living and experiencing the country themselves. To provide an example of a ghastly law given to the British people, they, as part of the European Union, were only allowed to catch 20% of the fish swimming in British territorial waters. What this meant was that tens of thousands of jobs were lost and they were not able to use one of the most significant resources given to them, as Britain is surrounded by ocean. Nigel Farage, Leader of the UK Independence Party, says that his fellow Englishmen, “effectively gave away the ability to look after one of our greatest resources to a bureaucracy based in Brussels.” Because of the way the government was set up, “Not only could the voters not change anything, but the institutes themselves are incapable of reform.” With an already maimed government, the European Union was creating more problems than it was solving. The British people had enough of giving up their rights as British citizens so the European Commission could tell them how to live. Therefore, with problems like those arising from the Union and with no hope to resolve them, Britain filed for secession and pulled out of the union
On June 23rd,2016 the results of the referendum called by David Cameron, changed the political landscape of England. David Cameron, former Prime Minister led the campaign to remain during the referendum, however he was unsuccessful and an incumbent Prime Minister. Thus he had to resign, ‘The Prime Minister resigned on Friday 24th June’. Theresa May
There is no doubt that Brexit has caused a divide amongst the UK population, with 52 to 48 percent in favor of leaving. “Take back control” has been at the forefront of the Brexiter’s campaign. It is argued the UK Parliament has lost its power since joining the European Union (EU) in 1973.
The United Kingdom initially joined the European Union in 1973 for economic reasons hoping to promote trade and form relationships with other states in the Union. In 1975 the UK held its first national referendum on withdrawal from the European Economic Community. According to the poll,” 67 % of Britons voted to stay in the EEC and 32 % voted to leave the union” (GYE). Because of this result the UK stayed in the EU in 1975. Over the past 40 years the European Union has been through a lot of change, many more countries have joined the organization and the EU has extended its control over more aspects of daily lives. These changes have sparked a lot of controversy coming from both the UK public and
This report will look at the benefits and issues surrounding the UKs decision to remain as a member state of the European Union (E.U.). Along with the newly elected conservative government, came the announcement that a nationwide referendum would be held, by the end of 2017, in order to determine the British public’s stance on the issue of EU membership.
First, the immigration issue, according to (Rosenfeld,E. 2016) some Brits worry that the country's employment market and social services will drown under the weight of too many new residents. Also according to (Hunt,A. & Wheeler,B. 2016) Prime Minister Theresa May has said one of the main messages she has taken from the Leave vote is that the British people want to see a reduction in immigration. Why do the British people have to worry? Because the net number of the immigrants to the United Kingdom is 330,000 a year and 55.7% of the figure is the EU citizens, the other 44.2% of the immigrants are from outside the EU. These numbers have made the British feel that their jobs have been taking away by the immigrants due to (Taub,A. 2016.) many of immigrants are willing to work at the lower wages. The second issue is the sovereignty. Some of British people wanted Britain to get the fully control of their country back, so they could limited or reduced the number of the immigrants who come to work and live in their country. So, no more free movement. Also the British are feeling that their country was being held back by the many rules and regulations of the EU. Due to the (Hunt,A. & Wheeler,B. 2016), the UK is one of the 10 member states who pay more in EU budget that they get out. So the vote leave camp want to make the use of those money for their country more than
As soon as the results of the referendum was called the value of the £ had decreased by the most to the rate it was at 1985, evidently causing one of the biggest economical loss in recent British history. Yet, MP’s have demonstrated immense hard work on trying to argue the cause against leaving the EU.
This article explains the “on-going” argument of whether or not Britain should remain in the European Union or leave. Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to keep Britain apart, winning the backing of most of most of his Cabinet and the goal of rival parties. Cameron has made it clear Britain is safer and stronger in the EU. However, much of Britain believes in opposition to their membership among the the European Union, leaving this as a constant
The European Union was established as an economic and political partnership between 28 European Countries (European Union, 2015). The UK has been stayed in the EU for over four decades from 1973 to now. In 1975, Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson had ever held a referendum on Britain’s membership in the EU and the voting result is to stay in the European Community. Recently, the article (BBC NEWS, 2015) reported that the UK has a plan to hold the second referendum by the end of 2017 to decide whether or not the UK should stay in or leave the European Union. This might be a significant referendum that may bring lots of impacts on the UK’s economy.
The recent UK referendum sent shockwaves throughout the West and the wider world; few people had predicted that the British people would vote to leave the EU. So what led Brits to say a firm 'no thank you' to continued membership of the European Union? A look at surveys, statistics and anecdotal evidence may help us to solve this puzzle.
Apparently massive political decisions with far reaching socioeconomic repercussions should be made based on results from an indirect vote. Brexit was exactly that kind of decision, a whirlwind of policy and controversy. This summer past Englishmen and Englishwomen upsettingly voted to leave the EU. Both Kenneth Rogoff and Uri Friedman put in their two cents in the form of political articles regarding the outcome of the Brexit vote. Rogoff uses an aggressive narrative, making his opinion quite clear and concise whilst Friedman takes a more general approach, looking at more than one dimension of the Brexit vote. Friedman’s use of interdisciplinary sources and general opinions provide evidence for well supported arguments. The Rogoff article is without a doubt more succinct in writing, but with a set of underlying bias guiding the way, Friedman’s broader approach to writing makes his article an unbiased analysis of the Brexit vote. Rogoff’s aggressive writing style makes his argument very convincing, at the same time the Friedman
U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron readys the country for another country-wide vote, this time for E.U. and Eurozone membership, but the P.M. is now coming under fire from some in his own party. This “in-or-out” referendum in June will give a final say on whether or not the U.K. will stay or leave the Eurozone. For many citizens staying in the E.U. is an attack on the sovereignty of their nation as well as a folly abandonment of the stronger british pound. P.M. Cameron is for the U.K. staying a part of the E.U. but some of his fellow tories
Britain withdrawing the European Union has always been an ongoing discussion, one of the many goals pursued by some British political parties, along with groups of people and individuals. Leaving the European Union is a right that every country that is part of the Treaty on the European Union has (Article 50 of the treaty), and this is what the Conservative political parties that proposed the referendum are triggering to impulse a faster withdraw from the EU; specially the new prime minister Theresa May. There had been another referendum in 1975, but it resulted in