Deepening into Brexit
On Thursday 23 June, 2016 a referendum was held to decide whether the UK should leave or
remain in the EU. The UK has voted to leave the European Union. It is
the first exit of the EU in more than 60 years. The results, reasons and
consequences of that decision are going to be analysed in the following lines.
Results
As shown
in the graph, 52% of voters chose leave, while 48% wanted to remain in the EU. Only 71.7% of the population participated in the
referendum. The nations that decided to leave the EU were England, with 53.4%,
and Wales, with 52.5%, while Northern Ireland and Scotland decided to remain
with 55.8% and 62%, respectively.
The result
suggests deep divisions in British society that, in general terms, voted very
differently depending on their geographical location, social class and age.
Large cities such as London, Leeds and Glasgow, chose to remain in the EU, because
the majority of jobs that are generated depend directly on their relationship
with Brussels. On the contrary, in the rural areas of the United Kingdom Brexit
has triumphed. Several studies also suggested that support for Brexit was
significantly greater among those over 55 than among the youngest and with
three out of every five voters over 65 declaring themselves in favour of
leaving the European Union, the result surely has in them their main driving
force.
Why is
the UK leaving the EU?
There were
many warnings that the Brexit would cause disastrous economic consequences.
Institutions such as the IMF and the OECD warned that the Brexit would cause
the stagnation of the economy, an increase in unemployment and the collapse of
the pound. The fact that so many people decided to ignore the experts suggests
that the number of those who have not felt favoured by the economic benefits of
five decades of membership in the European Union is greater than previously
thought.
In
addition, one of the main actors in the Brexit campaign, Nigel Farage, managed
to make migration the decisive issue. Although the language and images used in
the campaign - especially those introduced by Nigel Farage - were harshly
criticized, their messages worked and convinced many that this was a unique
opportunity to reaffirm British sovereignty. Concerns about the levels of
migration to the United Kingdom in the last 10 years and its past and future
impact were more widespread and entrenched than previously suspected.
And, above
all, it confirms that the argument that the United Kingdom cannot control the
number of migrants if it remains a member of the EU was an effective campaign
weapon.
Consequences
Cameron strongly bet on
his ability to achieve fundamental changes in the relationship between London
and Brussels, but these were disqualified as insufficient by the eurosceptics
of his own party. After a divisive campaign, the defeat left him no choice but
to announce his resignation. This was the immediate consequence of Brexit,
however, the subsequent effects of the departure of the United Kingdom from the
EU are still in terms of negotiation.Claudia Ortuño Ñíguez EPD 11 Grupo: Estibaliz Solana y Mercedes Recuero.
Hi, who wrote this last blog entry? I cannot assess it until the group is identified! Thanks
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