British Exit (Essay Sample)

Introduction
As we wait for the outcome of the British exit (Brexit) from the European Union, there are many uncertainties, opinions, and speculations all over the world . The United Kingdom's (UK) leaders and citizens voted to leave the European Union after a 44-year relationship. The world as we know it is shifting, leaving many ambiguous plans from leaders in its wake, creating uncharted territory for us to ponder how this will affect the future of the UK, EU, and the rest of the world.
Background
Following World War II, the European Union was formed to end the daunting battles between neighboring countries and promote peace and prosperity for all members. According to Winston Churchill's speech at Zurich University in September 1946, the goal was to "recreate the European Family (...) provide it with the structure under which it can dwell in peace, safety, and freedom" ("The Origins 1945-1957 - the History of the European Union and European Citizenship”).
Over time, the EU has developed an internal single market of 28 member countries that share political and economic policies and systems on issues such as free trade, immigration, development, and many others. The outcomes of these policies and systems have proven to be economically beneficial to the participating member countries, establishing Europe as one of the world's most powerful financial players. This power and achievement led to EU membership becoming more desirable over time, resulting in widespread support. As is typical in most cases, significant growth brings new challenges, such as the current Brexit situation.
Brexit
Former British Prime Minister David Cameron held a historic "referendum with 52% of voters wanting to leave the EU" in 2016 (Beauchamp). "Cameron was opposed to the Brexit vote and resigned shortly after the results were announced" (Ward and Broom, “Bloomberg - Are You a Robot?”). "On March 29, 2017, the current UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, invoked Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, launching a two-year process that will end the UK's relationship with the EU" (Beauchamp). Many negotiations will take place regarding the UK's exit strategy, as well as extensive planning on both sides of the deal.
So, what triggered the UK's decision to leave the EU? The UK's discontent stems from the perception that the EU has become an all-powerful bureaucracy. When it comes to immigration, trade, and spending, the British believe their voice is no longer heard. Because of EU restrictions, the UK experienced a massive surge in immigration, prompting many anti-immigrant supporters to rally behind the proposed Brexit idea. "The UK Independence Party (UKIP) launched several campaigns that used scare tactics and statistical misrepresentation to smear the image of these immigrants, resulting in even more support for Brexit" (Beauchamp). Many people believe that the main reason for Brexit is xenophobia and nationalism rather than economic gain.
Prime Minister Theresa May outlined the 12 objectives of the Brexit negotiations in a speech delivered in January 2017. "First and foremost, May promises to provide clarity and certainty to British citizens during these turbulent times" (The government's negotiating objectives for exiting the EU: Prime Minister speech). Throughout her speech, she only mentions one thing she is certain of converting existing EU laws into British law. Any changes to EU law must be approved by Parliament after "proper debate."
May also outlines her plans for a stronger Britain, including greater control over their laws, strengthening the union between the four nations that comprise the UK, and maintaining the long-standing Common Travel Area between the UK and Ireland. She discusses her plans for a fairer Britain, including better immigration control, worker rights protection, and an agreement between the EU and Britain on the rights of their respective nationals. "May proposes a "plan" for a truly global Britain that includes free trade with European markets, new trade agreements with other countries, a focus on science and innovation, and collaboration in the fight against crime and terrorism. (May)" Finally, May discusses the possibility of a smooth exit from the EU.
Despite May's inspiring words, there is still a lot of uncertainty about the outcome of Brexit. The entire speech was focused on one big idea, with little detail on what the result will be for Britain, the EU, or the rest of the world. This begs the question, "What happens next?" Citizens of the United Kingdom, the European Union, and other countries must exercise extreme caution when conducting business with the United Kingdom during such volatile and uncertain times.
There are numerous indications that Brexit will cause a recession in the United Kingdom. Due to the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, household and business spending decisions will be put on hold until a more specific plan is implemented and some positive results can be anticipated. According to the "Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), even the best-case scenario will result in every household losing around £2,200 by 2020" (NewStatesman). These figures are further supported by the CBI, a leading charter business in the UK that provides insight, influence, and access to planning issues such as Brexit. "The CBI estimates that leaving the EU will cost the UK £100 billion in GDP and result in the loss of approximately 950,000 jobs." Furthermore, the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee has predicted that Brexit will result in a weak pound, which will raise the cost of imported goods" (NewStatesman).
Another contentious issue for Britain is its free trade talks with countries outside the EU, such as the United States and Australia. "These new trade talks may very well violate EU laws and thus illegal in the current state of affairs" (Henley, Jon, and Jennifer Rankin). Prime Minister May has been advised to halt any further negotiations with countries outside the EU, as this could weaken the UK's position in negotiating a favorable trade agreement with the EU after Brexit. This puts Britain in a difficult position; should they risk foregoing a trade agreement with the EU by securing trade agreements with other countries now? Or do they follow EU laws in the hope of securing a trade agreement with the EU after Brexit that would lower trade costs with neighboring countries?
Brexit has provided the EU with numerous opportunities. Even though Britain's exit may have some negative consequences for the EU, they are still expected to maintain the world's second-largest economic coalition, retaining their attractiveness for jobs and international business opportunities. Given that nearly one million jobs are expected to be lost in the UK, there is a good chance that highly skilled workers will migrate to the EU to find work and gain some security. Another advantage for the EU during Brexit is its current government, la