The deluge of reports and analyses emerging after Brexit points to one thing –those who supported Brexit had no idea of the magnitude of the consequences of what they were working for. Confusion reigns supreme about where and when to start the process of leaving the European Union, what its full consequences will be and whether all the promises and threats would come true. Some of those who sought Brexit are said to be regretting their decision. Prime Minister David Cameron is in no hurry to quit the bloc despite the vote, but the EU wants Britain to leave as early as possible, today itself if possible, so that they can get on with their business and minimize the negative fallout and damage to the rest of the union. If there is less confusion, it’s about the torrid fact that the price Britain will pay will be heavier than Brexiters have thought.
The onus is now on the Leave camp to deliver. The Remain camp had complete clarity about what they stood for. They said leaving the EU would be foolhardy and dangerous and an undoing of all that Britain has achieved these decades through its membership of the EU, but the Brexit camp relied more on demagogy and raw emotions rather than reason. There was no plan or document about how they would proceed if they won the vote. The confusion and chaos are growing every day while grandiose promises from the Brexit camp about curbing immigration and ushering in economic prosperity are proving to be less attainable. German Chancellor Angela Merkel made it crystal clear when she said that Britain cannot hope to keep all the privileges while doing away with the obligations. No gains without pains.
Interestingly, by choosing to resign, David Cameron has cannily passed the pains of negotiating a breakup to his successor while he is responsible for this catastrophe because, according to reports, he called the referendum not in response to any public demand but to serve his personal agenda. His gamble boomeranged, grievously wounding not only him but the entire country.
Boris Johnson, one of the leaders of Brexit, will have to clear up the mess if he replaces Cameron. He is already fuzzy about all that he had promised before the vote and the road ahead promises to be thorny. He would like to execute this divorce on his terms, but the other side is likely to deny him that fun. The EU too will be happy to claim its pound of flesh.
The deluge of reports and analyses emerging after Brexit points to one thing –those who supported Brexit had no idea of the magnitude of the consequences of what they were working for. Confusion reigns supreme about where and when to start the process of leaving the European Union, what its full consequences will be and whether all the promises and threats would come true. Some of those who sought Brexit are said to be regretting their decision. Prime Minister David Cameron is in no hurry to quit the bloc despite the vote, but the EU wants Britain to leave as early as possible, today itself if possible, so that they can get on with their business and minimize the negative fallout and damage to the rest of the union. If there is less confusion, it’s about the torrid fact that the price Britain will pay will be heavier than Brexiters have thought.
The onus is now on the Leave camp to deliver. The Remain camp had complete clarity about what they stood for. They said leaving the EU would be foolhardy and dangerous and an undoing of all that Britain has achieved these decades through its membership of the EU, but the Brexit camp relied more on demagogy and raw emotions rather than reason. There was no plan or document about how they would proceed if they won the vote. The confusion and chaos are growing every day while grandiose promises from the Brexit camp about curbing immigration and ushering in economic prosperity are proving to be less attainable. German Chancellor Angela Merkel made it crystal clear when she said that Britain cannot hope to keep all the privileges while doing away with the obligations. No gains without pains.
Interestingly, by choosing to resign, David Cameron has cannily passed the pains of negotiating a breakup to his successor while he is responsible for this catastrophe because, according to reports, he called the referendum not in response to any public demand but to serve his personal agenda. His gamble boomeranged, grievously wounding not only him but the entire country.
Boris Johnson, one of the leaders of Brexit, will have to clear up the mess if he replaces Cameron. He is already fuzzy about all that he had promised before the vote and the road ahead promises to be thorny. He would like to execute this divorce on his terms, but the other side is likely to deny him that fun. The EU too will be happy to claim its pound of flesh.
