World events exposing Global Britain frailties

BORIS Johnson stood rather awkwardly amongst EU leaders assembling for the family photograph at the Nato /EU summit in Brussels last week. There was much cheerful conversation and warm handshaking but it was noticeable that, although Boris received polite welcomes, his hands were mostly in his pockets.

President Joe Biden spoke at the conference. He emphasised that the US attaches great importance to the unity of European nations, especially in the face of Putin’s appalling Russian aggression in Ukraine

If Boris felt uncomfortable, what did he expect? He led the divisive

Leave campaign, which succeeded in persuading enough UK voters to approve the plan to remove the UK from the European Union. We were important founder members of this organisation that had helped to keep the peace in Europe since World

War II. As one of the world’s oldest democracies, we had a responsibility to contribute our experience to the development and improvement of the EU. Unfortunately, Boris supported the view that we would be better off on our own, seeking to be a ‘global player’.

We must live with Brexit, but the invasion of Ukraine has exposed that the mission to become ‘Global Britain’ has been undermined by world events. Our security depends on maintaining vital links with close neighbours. We must co-operate and collaborate with them as we face modern-day crises – in time of war, in a global pandemic and as we face climate change.

Ukraine’s charismatic president, Volodymyr Zelensky has asked the EU to fast track his country’s membership and it seems highly likely that this will happen in a short time frame. This will not please Putin, who is wary of the EU and bitterly opposed to Ukraine joining Nato. Zelensky would doubtless be overjoyed if his country could become a member of Nato as well as a member of the European Union.

We are members of Nato but the uncomfortable truth for Boris is that ‘Getting Brexit Done’ has had undreamt of consequences. It has removed us from our secure place amongst the nations of the EU just as Putin’s unprovoked, brutal invasion of peaceful Ukraine raises the spectre of an unthinkable World War III. Boris has every reason to feel uncomfortable.

Jill Natusch Sidmouth, Devon