COMMENTARY: The balkanisation of Britain
By Dickson Igwe, Contributor
Brexit has entered an expected phase. The UK is becoming balkanized. The brexit civil war has generated divisions in the United Kingdom that cannot be bridged unless the two sides talk and settle. And it will be unwise for any ‘expert’ to predict the trajectory and final outcome of the Brexit war at this stage in the conundrum.
Boris Johnson — a blustering and bullying type personality in the manner of Donald Trump — has been effectively checkmated by UK lawmakers and the legal establishment.
It is highly unlikely he gets the two things he believes will save his leadership of the UK: a Brexit deal or a No Deal Brexit.
Albeit the latest news is that Johnson may U-turn and allow Northern Ireland to remain in the European Union with a customs border between Northern Ireland and the UK.
On the other side of the battlefield: Remainers led by senior Conservative and Labour leaders, Liberal Democrat Joe Cox, and Speaker of the House John Bercow, are determined to thwart the Far-Right Conservative party at every move.
And they are succeeding with the aid of ‘powerful silent partners’. The UK is highly unlikely to leave the European Union on October 31. Another fact is that European Leaders want to be rid of this whole Brexit mess.
However, Europeans do not want to be seen as the side that pulls of the trigger that leads to the UK’s departure from Europe. Europeans prefer that the UK pulls the trigger itself that signals a breakaway from the European Union. UK Citizens – if the latest polls are to be believed – are now firmly against Brexit.
There has been a ‘great awakening’ that UK voters and the general public have been ”conned” by Brexiteers, led by a ‘bunch of irresponsible, wealthy, and Old School Tie nationalists and fanatics’ — snake oil salesman, with posh accents.
A UK General Election predicated on Brexit is expected before Christmas. But even this must be taken with the ‘proverbial grain of salt’. In war anything is possible.
The UK — before October 31 — may opt for a Caretaker Government led by an elder statesman like Sir Kenneth Clark, until the Brexit matter is resolved.
This will most logically end with a SECOND REFERENDUM that asks for a national response on an insoluble matter, by hopefully asking the right questions.
Unlike the FIRST REFERENDUM that has landed Britain in the present swamp. The view from Europe must be daunting. The UK: the worlds most respected Parliamentary Democracy appears to be disintegrating.
Europe’s leaders continue to state that Britain is free to leave whenever it wants to. So, why can’t the Brits decide to simply depart? Because half of Britain understands that in today’s world or power politics – with a Donald Trump who cannot be trusted, a predatory and swiftly growing China, and a Russia and India that are becoming huge economic and military behemoths – that a Europe of 500 middle-class consumers with huge political, economic, and social clout, is the only check on these encircling powers: ‘The European Union is the only game in town for the UK’.
Brexiteers, however, remain deluded. There is a yearning for a yesteryear, when the British Empire ruled the Seven Seas. Post-Brexit, Britain that ruled the world will make a resurgence.
This is the Brexiteer dream. The belief is that if the UK breaks from the EU that ”ditto” the world of the 1940s and 50s where Britannia ruled much of the world, will make a re-appearance. That is not going to happen.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
What is the point of this?
There are so many errors in this article.
Even the ‘opinions’ presented are weak at best. The writer has a really weak grasp of the facts.
Journalism at its worst
It’s always bad journalism when it does not fit with your deluded picture of the world
I was wondering when some one was going to call out this ass…e, who seems to be able to even critic the government, because his wife has senior position. this one cat that needs a bell a long time ago.
Hide behind your Jimmy Smith – why not confront Igwe in public and in his face? COWARD
People in glass houses …
You sound like a frustrated little punk as-
There is little point in Dickson reciting the pro-remain lies, and to attempt to sweep the predominantly leave voters of the UK into a ‘far right’ collective. Unfortunately, the process of leaving the EU has been frustrated by people like Dickson who believe that they know better than the public. Time for that ‘old boy’ to pack up his computer and keep his I’ll informed views to himself.
A lot of debatable points made – but one thing is true. The referendum vote was predicated with hardly any of the now known facts that have led the UK into such division. If another referendum was called today Brexit would be an unknown word. Many Brits who voted thought the main argument concerned the influx of Moslems into the UK and a leave vote would end that. Pretty naive.
WELL SAID IGWE
To the brexiters bawlin when someone points out their dream is crumbling :). go cry with Trumpy..the times are changing
Igwe I see u mash some corn. Lol.
The Brexiters are not happy with the truth.
That is their method- all emotion- no fact- that is why their dream of a new British Empire is pie in the sky
There is so much wrong with this article. Where to start?
Remainers succeeding with the aid of ‘powerful silent partners’. Who would these be? Some of the parliamentarians who’ve been instrumental in thwarting Johnson’s No Deal ploy have been members of his own party. Before that, he himself was instrumental in torpedoing Mrs May’s highly unpopular deal. There are no shadowy puppet masters pulling the strings.
There is a lot more to critique, but the biggest misreading on Dickson’s part is why Brexit hasn’t happened. It’s not a case of ‘simply leave’. Rather, the Irish border issue is proving difficult to resolve without threatening the European project, or the Good Friday Agreement (thereby risking a resurgence of The Troubles), while – on the part of the Brexiters – keeping the ERG hardliners and their friends in the DUP happy.
igwe you are blogging under several names, still does not change the facts, that your wife is now your supervisor…
The British Empire: “At its height, it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power. By 1913, the British Empire held sway over 412 million people, 23% of the world population at the time, and by 1920, it covered 35,500,000 km2 (13,700,000 sq mi), 24% of the Earth’s total land area.
As a result, its political, legal, linguistic and cultural legacy is widespread. At the peak of its power, the phrase “the empire on which the sun never sets” was often used to describe the British Empire, because its expanse around the globe meant that the sun was always shining on at least one of its territories.” (Wikipedia).
IMO, the UK is longing to regain its past glory. The 23 June 2016 referendum to 1) remain or 2) exit the EU passed with 51.9% of voters, a simple majority, voting to exit (Brexit) the EU. Confident that UK voters would not have voted to exit the EU, the government at the time set the bar way too low. Instead, the bar should have been set perhaps at the 70-80% mark. Brexit was cloaked in xenophobia, nationalism, discrimination, prejudice…….etc.
Immigration (even from other Western European countries) seemed to have been a critical factor in many voters voting to exit the EU. The law of unintended consequences wind is swirling and blowing hard and hitting the UK square in the face. The fierce wind is causing political turmoil in the UK. Both former PM Teresa May and current PM Boris Johnson have a rough, challenging go at it. Are the UK voters having buyers remorse? Will the UK crash out of the EU on 10/31/19?
You hit the nail on the head with Immigration being a major factor in the Brexit vote. Like some so called former elites in the BVI, the UK (England) thinks it still riding the crest of the wave. It does want to accept that its ship has long sail. The UK has always had negative view of immigrants——-Enoch Powell——River of Blood rant.. It invaded, occupied and raped colonies of their resources to build its economy, ie, Caribbean, Africa, India……etc.
Further, it also used immigrants to work in its factories. However, once the colonies resources were depleted, they were thrown away like used paper towel. The same attitude applied to immigrant workers; Windrush Generation…..etc. Brexiteers eat their cake and now wants it too. In regards to balkanizing, what I say Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland’s position.
Both are comrades in the Opinion Writer Fraternity. Notice each is either supportive or silent on each other’s rubbish. Both don’t know their a..s from their elbow. The facts are that the UK has always embraced immigration but these two b…ks feed on racist nonsense. Where is the Balkanization ? Buyers remorse my a..s; the people have voted so carry out the majority of voters wishes.
Garbage-you are another deluded Brexiter who believes blacks are stupid- everyone in the BVI clearly understands that Brexit is racist and xenophobic- Little England nationalism – you are the fool
The ignorance demonstrated in this article is mind-boggling. Apart from the Remainer claptrap, the leader of the Liberal Democrats is Jo Swinson. Jo Cox was a Labour MP, murdered in 2016 during the Brexit Referendum, upon which campaigning was suspended.
Joe Cox is not leading anything. Jo Swindon is LibDem leader. Jo Cox was a Labour MP murdered in 2016 by a far right extremist. One of several questionable elements in this article
So the man made an error- so what – does not change a thing
I am beginning to think these Brexiters are actually very stupid people
Bottom line these Brexit people are r—-s and a—–es