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12.12.2018 Opinion

Great Britain In Great Brexit Dilemma

By Sayibu Ibrahim Suhuyini
Theresa MayTheresa May
12.12.2018 LISTEN

On Monday December 10, 2018, British Prime Minister, Theresa May, announced to the British parliament, her decision to defer indefinitely, a scheduled parliamentary vote on her proposed Brexit plan. Mrs. May took this significant decision because, she was convinced that, her unpopular plan will suffer a humiliating defeat if it was to go through a vote in its current form, especially due to the Northern Ireland backstop.

The plan which has already been accepted by the European Union, has been vehemently opposed by many in Britain, including Brexiteers. This controversial plan has led to the resignation of many of May’s cabinet members, including Former Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson and Former Brexit Secretary, David Davis. It has also seen strong opposition from Labour MPs and some others from Mrs. May’s own Conservative Party, throwing the country into a political stand off.

The decision by the Prime Minister to defer the vote indefinitely, poses a more bleak future for the Great Britain as far as the Brexit agenda is concern. The options available to her are very limited and time is not also in her favour. She has stated her intention to go back and speak to her counterparts in the EU over some of the concerns raised by the parliamentarians. However, it is almost certain that, a renegotiation of the deal is not possible. The EU in accepting Mrs. May’s current plan had said that, it was the best they were willing to give Britain. The EU Council President, Donald Tusk and the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, have all ruled out the possibility of a renegotiation, with the latter saying “no room whatsoever for renegotiation”

So with the possibility of a renegotiation almost off the table, what now for Mrs. May and Great Britain? With the March 29, 2019 deadline fast approaching, the Prime Minister must convince her Conservative MPs and some others from the labour camp to vote for her plan to go through parliament, because failure to get the plan passed before the deadline, will see Britain exit the EU without a deal, which will have far reaching consequences than any deal could ever have.

Also, given the recent ruling by the EU Court of Justice, to the effect that, Britain can unilaterally revoke the notification to exit the EU, another option available to Britain is a second referendum to decide on revoking the exit notification. However, Mrs. May’s government has ruled out the possibility of another referendum, therefore, she will have to resign for someone else to come and organise it. Indeed, this option will soon be gaining much favor from people across all political divide.

Whatever the case may be, it is clear that, the people of Britain will not be getting the kind of Brexit they envisaged. They will either get an unfavorable Brexit deal or an exit with no deal or a revocation of the notification to exit. What is however not clear, is the future of Mrs. May and her government. The postponement of the parliamentary vote is more likely to be a temporary delay of the inevitable exit of Theresa May as Prime Minister of Britain.

Author: Sayibu Ibrahim Suhuyini

A blogger at ibrahimsuhuyini.bogspot.com and an International relations commentator.

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