Brits shouldn’t think that they alone are tired of the stress of Brexit and can’t wait for the government to decide one way or the other. A lot of people in other countries are feeling the same, and Brexit fatigue has set in there too.
Because Brexit is so much bigger than Britain itself, the world is waiting with bated breath for what will happen next. The nerve-racking wait as the deadlines have approached and then been postponed has left everyone wondering how it will all end.
So, how do things stand now?
Parliament has agreed in principle to a Brexit deal
As the Halloween deadline loomed, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, was able to negotiate some concessions on former Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal, which the House of Commons rejected emphatically more than once. He had taken the reins of the Conservative Party, promising to ‘get Brexit done’ by the deadline.
However, he would be unable to do so, not because of the Brexit deal itself, but because of the proposed timelines for its implementation. MPs rejected the schedule, saying that it was rushed. After the drama that followed his prorogation of parliament together with this proposed delay, Johnson had no choice but to request an extension from the EU.
The upcoming election will decide the way forward
One thing the House of Commons did manage to agree on was changing the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, which had required a two-thirds majority to call new elections. Now, only parliament needed only a simple majority, and it was secured on the 30th of October. Royal Assent was announced on the 31st, which was to have been the Brexit D-Day.
The election was set for the 12th of December, despite the Labor Party’s attempt to move it to the 9th. This showdown is being referred to as the Brexit Election in the British media, because, ultimately, Brexit is what this whole election is about.
Depending on who wins, there are four potential outcomes:
- Implement Johnson’s deal
- Revoke Article 50 and effectively cancel Brexit
- Conduct a second Brexit referendum
- Undertake a no-deal Brexit
The Brexit impact
Few economists and experts agree on how Brexit will affect Britain, the EU, and the rest of the world. Emergency no-deal Brexit plans make the population feel unsure of what is to come. When such matters are discussed in the media, the Brexit impact on the pound sterling is easy to see.
What will happen next?
Based on the voices of the electorate, Britain is a country deeply divided, with diametrically opposed views about what should happen. It’s hard to picture an outcome that will satisfy everyone.
The question of Northern Ireland remains as clear as mud, as they say, since there is still a lot of confusion over what will happen there. The notorious backstop, which has been taken off the table, according to Johnson’s explanation of his deal, remains contentious. Since Northern Ireland is the only part of Great Britain that shares a border with an EU country, the Republic of Ireland, it is most likely to be affected by customs checks and regulations.
Many people believe that this is in direct contravention of the Good Friday Agreement, which brought peace to the area after years of fighting and violence, known as The Troubles. The agreement promised a fluid border, and it seems that Brexit will offer anything but that.
No matter how it turns out, the extension, which is set to last until 31 January 2020, is looming. The British people are set for another wild rollercoaster ride as they await the outcome and what it will imply.
