Perhaps the one thing that everyone can agree on is that Brexit has become a national crisis and an embarrassment to us Brits. Nichola Ross Martin suggests a way out of the log jam.
- Many people are past caring what will happen with Brexit.
- Many people are baffled by the different forms of Brexit.
- Many business owners and it appears the majority of MPs consider that leaving the EU with no deal is not a viable option.
- Many MPs do not like Mrs May's deal as it ties the UK into many EU rules on which we will have no say.
What do we do now?
Like many people I am unclear exactly what Mrs May's deal means.
- The withdrawal agreement is incredibly low on detail.
- We all know a bit more about the objections to the Irish backstop.
- All I can see is that even if we leave with Mrs May's deal, we have ahead of us years of haggling and possible further costs.
I can also foresee that if we leave the EU with no deal we will be punished by the EU.
The EU is our neighbour and our biggest trading partner and, any future trading arrangement will come at a price: leave with no deal and that will all have to be re-negotiated.
- We will not save the £39billion cost of Mrs May's Brexit as we still be forced to pay our way if we are trading with Europe.
- We will still be forced to pay a lot of those costs that take up the £39billion; we have benefited the past from EU funds and have committment to pay for certain future costs.
Brexit was also partly fuelled by concerns over immigration.
Leaving the EU will not affect the flow of illegal immigrants to the UK from EU or non-EU countries.
- Lorries with goods are still going to have to come to the UK.
- The Channel may be one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world yet the sea is still the sea.
- It seems that leaving the EU could make the position worse: tell me, why would France bother to police the ports for us?
What about fishing rights on a no-deal? Back to the trawler wars.
- Aside from that, how many of the home fleet are still actually owned by the UK?
- Countries such as the Netherlands have been buying up boats and their licences on a consistent basis for many, many years.
What now?
All things considered, and we have been considering all this for two years. Perhaps our only viable option is to revoke Article 50.
- We can then regroup, rethink, reunite the country, heal and then vote again when we have a set of clear ideas mapped out.
- The UK could establish a specialist government department charged with the aim of working out just what we want when we say Brexit.
This does not reverse the results of the 2016 referendum, this simply allows time for rational decision making and will allow the UK to iron out its differences and reunite.
Sign up now: Petition: Revoke Article 50 and remain in the EU
Article by Nichola Ross Martin: the views attached in the article in no way affect or reflect the professional bodies of which I am a member.