If the draft Brexit deal agreed upon between Britain and the European Union is left up in the air, resulting in a no-deal withdrawal, it will inevitably cause economic and social turmoil on both sides. Britain must fulfill its responsibility to avert this worst-case scenario.
With Britain drawing near to its exit from the EU on March 29, 2019, it faces deepening political turmoil.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has postponed up to next month a vote, initially set for Dec. 11, for parliamentary approval of the draft agreement. This is because pro-Brexit hard-liners in the ruling Conservative Party have stubbornly opposed the draft, making it highly likely for the agreement to be rejected.
At the initiative of Brexit hard-liners, the Conservative Party even subjected their party leader May to a confidence vote. While a majority of votes were cast in favor of May, thereby making sure she stays on, more than one-third of party parliamentarians cast no-confidence votes.
May expressed her intention to step down before the next general election. Nonetheless, more no-confidence votes were cast than expected, in an apparently damaging move against May. The situation is serious, as she cannot even hold a grip on her ruling party at a time when the Brexit process has reached a critical phase.
The crux of antagonism is the so-called backstop included in the draft Brexit deal to maintain free passage between Northern Ireland, part of British territory, and Ireland.
The measure is designed to exercise an option if Britain and the EU fail to resolve the Northern Ireland border control issue during the Brexit transition period, from March next year to the end of 2020, where Britain as a whole would remain in the EU customs union or the transition period would be extended.
Hard-line Brexiters have criticized this measure, saying Britain will have to permanently obey EU rules as it cannot leave the customs union at its own initiative.
Consider realistic options
After its summit meeting, the EU issued a statement emphasizing that even if the backstop is triggered, it will only be temporary until the border control issue is settled. The EU seems to have shown some consideration to May's situation while remaining steadfast in not amending the draft agreement.
The ball is in Britain's court.
May needs to make further efforts to gain parliamentary approval for the draft deal. It is essential to gain interparty backing while alleviating concerns held by Brexit hard-liners and emphasizing the risks to be incurred by a no-deal Brexit.
The largest opposition Labour Party, too, has a great responsibility to fulfill. It has only opposed the draft deal and has not presented a realistic alternative. The party is said to be aiming to vote down the draft agreement and then use such a situation to put a no-confidence motion against the prime minister, thereby engineering a snap general election. Its pursuit of party interests seems to be going too far.
The British Parliament is mired in confusion over a problem that will determine the fate of Britain, and it remains unable to make decisions. Britain faces questions about whether it can quickly bring itself out of this dire situation.
It appears inevitable for Britain to consider realistic options, including putting off its March withdrawal or conducting another national referendum on its exit from the EU.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 16, 2018)
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