Brexit trigger is a shot in the dark
MANY UNKNOWNS: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER MAY HOLDS CARDS CLOSE TO HER CHEST
Never before in the annals of international relations has so much been surrendered by so many to so few without anyone really knowing what is going on.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has won the right to launch divorce proceedings with the European Union (EU) and begin two years of talks that will shape the future of Britain and Europe. May faced down attempts in the lower and upper houses of parliament to add conditions to legislation giving her the right to launch the divorce.
Both houses backed the so-called Brexit Bill and after securing symbolic approval from Queen Elizabeth, May has the right to begin what could be Britain’s most complex negotiations since World War II.’
Fifty shades of May
But beyond saying she will begin the formal process by the end of this month, May has yet to answer the question of exactly when – and end nine months of guesswork as to how her government will approach the uncharted territory of leaving the EU.
“We are now on the threshold of the most important negotiation for our country in a generation,” Brexit Minister David Davis said after parliament approved the legislation on Monday.
“We have a plan to build a global Britain and take advantage of its new place in the world by forging new trading links.”
The date of when May will trigger Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty and start the divorce has all but overshadowed new complications to the talks: Scotland’s demand for a new independence referendum and a call by Northern Ireland’s largest party for a vote on splitting with Britain.
Her spokesperson instead gave the biggest hint yet it would be toward the end of the month: “I have said ‘end’ many times but it would seem I didn’t put it in capital letters quite strongly enough.”
May’s government will have to weigh up competing demands during the two years of talks provided for by Article 50, which envisages a deal on divorce terms while “taking account of the framework for its future relationship with the Union”.
May has revealed little of her strategy but has a long wish list – a free trade deal, security cooperation, control over immigration and sovereignty over British laws.
The EU has baulked at her demands, saying they amount to “having your cake and eating it”.
While signalling cooperation, May’s government is also preparing for the possibility of crashing out of the bloc with no deal.
Holding pattern
“There will be a lot of different issues jostling for attention, so I think what will happen is we will get into in a bit of a holding pattern,” said Anand Menon, director of the UK in a Changing Europe think tank. “I don’t know for how long.” – Reuters