Seven years have passed since the British referendum to leave the European Union, and three years have passed since the divorce finally took place, after very long and difficult negotiations over the rules on which the new relationship between London and Brussels is now based. However, Brexit does not appear to be exactly what its advocates have promised, at least so far, and more and more UK citizens are convinced it was a mistake. So can you imagine taking a step back? According to the Financial Times, the hypothesis cannot be completely ruled out, quite the contrary. The well-known financial newspaper has published an analysis of the magazine’s main commentator on European affairs, Gideon Rachman, whose headline is precisely this: Brexit is reversible – that’s it.
The journalist begins her reasoning by declaring that according to recent polls, 58% of voters would not only regret Brexit but would be actively in favor of Reunification. “It’s easy to see why. Brexit has been sold as a way to control immigration and improve the NHS. But the NHS is now much worse than it was in 2016. Immigration in the UK is still very high, with EU immigrants largely replaced by EU immigrants from outside the bloc. people,” Rachman writes.
There is almost unanimity in Brussels that the UK’s return would be a positive thing, but this time it seems unlikely that London will be offered a special deal as before. This would be a take or leave, meaning no reductions in national funds to be allocated to the Community budget and no ‘wake-ups’, no possibility of withdrawal from the most controversial directives. “The UK should accept the free movement of people and possibly the euro,” the newspaper said. For the Financial Times columnist, who said he opposed the idea 20 years ago, the shyness towards a single currency can be overcome. “The euro is now an established international currency, while the pound is chronically weak,” he says. Also, other issues might persuade the British to reconsider. “Young Rejoin voters care more about issues like the environment than abstract concepts of sovereignty,” he adds.
So, how can a new accession process be started? The hypothesis could be a new referendum or a double referendum. “The first vote could take place in 2026, ten years after the 2016 vote, and would allow the UK government to start negotiations with the EU.” In that case “a strong approval rating – 60% for example – could allay EU suspicions that the UK is too divided to be cured”. A second referendum will then be held “on the terms of the Reunification agreement” to certify that they are acceptable to all. “It took England 11 years to re-establish the monarchy. Why don’t you put that time behind a year and try to reverse Brexit in ten years,” the journalist said. the journalist concludes.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
