Theresa May was an unlikely candidate to be UK's Prime Minister and yet the stars catapulted her in to the hot seat, steering her country to a future she had herself opposed, a divorce from the European Union (EU). Thrust in a situation against her basic instincts , leading to suspicions about the genuineness of her effort, she has to be the most isolated leader in the world trying to create the same 'magic tree' that she said did not exist. Her attempt to head to Brussels and have a face-to-face with EU leaders has been soundly rebuffed. European top honchos want her to deal with Michelle Barnier. Her spark of an idea in the Florence declaration has been consigned to history, the top agenda-barter of trade talks in parallel with divorce discussions has been shot down long ago and the U-turn on a further two-year transition addressing migrant workforce may have created a howl of protest at home; it hasn't softened European hearts.
The hard or no-deal Brexit that she had promised, if all else fails, hasn't gained currency and if anything, is on a devaluation slide. With major business houses and banks quietly, but emphatically seeking newer headquarters in a Euro friendly environment Mayor Sadiq Khan will be sleepless in London, but anyone with their wits around them will realise the harshness of the cold reality of the inevitable impact on jobs, real-estate and on supporting businesses, many of them small entities. The rah-rah chants of 'they need us more than we need them' have been silenced by a simple statement from German business. Supporting their government , they are preparing for a 'hard' Brexit and contrary to previous claims British exports outweighs EU imports in value and volume.
Sir Cyril Ratcliffe's infamous drunken arm and squiggly lines created havoc for the Indian sub-continent in 1947, leaving scars that will forever be indelible. The opposite is now facing Ireland's border with the UK through Northern Ireland. A fenceless border could well become a walled one. In this case it isn't an individual but a nation that will have to face the consequences of a mandate that now seems poorly thought through.
That's where the bigger tragedy is. The popular will of the UK is now being taken for a toss by the rest of Europe, thereby striking at the root of democracy. In a queer sort of way, it exposes a major downside of the ism, where the collective incompetence of a group is consigning the masses to the mire.
There are other countries that have more to lose in a British divorce. Early polls suggest the Macron charm is wearing thin in wobbly France and Greece's embattled leaders seem to have sunk along with their country. Spain's recovery is camouflaged by the almost ridiculous wealth of its two major football clubs and Italy continues to be what it has been for over a decade, an enigma. Further bailouts and impetus require the backing of the Sterling. With a Labour motion passed in parliament due to a very odd abstention decision by the Tories against the Universal Credit Scheme that Conservatives promised succour to the indebted and Labour argued indebted them further and a rapidly weakening Sterling add to Ms May's headaches.
It's not often that a majority coalition suffers defeat in Parliament and there are those including the EU leadership that believe Labour could well end up finishing a job that has stuttered so far. Whereas, they have refused to meet Ms. May, Mr Barnier and the leaders have met with Jeremy Corbyn and his Shadow Brexit Minister. This being the outcome of coming out clear with the idea of a single market, common borders and protecting rights of migrants along with expat British.
It's a tone that resonates with the European Zone and is far removed from the satirical tone of the words 'The UK has not done enough'. The Conservatives' divide is deep, Ms May disagrees but one thing for sure; she is already rueing having said in 'seemingly closed door discussions ' that the world cannot be led by Human Rights violating China or India. That neither country made any official comments just about concludes the case.
E-mail: [email protected]
