Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Brexit Goes Live!

By Douglas V. Gibbs
AuthorSpeakerInstructorRadio Host

The Day of reckoning has arrived, and the sovereignty of Britain is upon them so that they may begin the process of pursuing that independence.

Article 50 trigger day key points
As with any divorce, harsh words are being thrown around.

The U.K.'s Prime Minister, Theresa May, vowed to forge a 'bright future' for Britain as the historic E.U. divorce letter was finally delivered.  With those words, however, she also delivered a stark warning to Brussels that punishing the U.K. on trade because Britain decided to seek her sovereignty would mean losing cooperation on security against terrorism by Britain on return.  In short, May warned the European Union that giving Britain a bad deal would be a "costly mistake" for the mainland collective.

Mrs. May was greeted with cheers of approval as she arrived in the House of Commons chamber for her regular session as Prime Minister. Nonetheless, the Brexit vote had been a close one, and there are still those who believe the move to be a harsh mistake.  Outside parliament protesters were still vainly demanding a rethink.

While speaking to the House of Commons Theresa May said to them that triggering Article 50 was a "great turning point" for the country.  The day, and the delivery of the letter, marks Britain starting the bureaucratic process of going past the point of no return on Brexit. 

May also stated that Brexit becoming official begins an opportunity to forge a country that "works for everyone, not the privileged few."

While some see the day as being another step along a journey that may become a collision course with the rest of Europe, a belief accentuated by the E.U. blocking the London Stock Exchange's £21billion blockbuster, the British Pound has soared in response to Brexit finally being triggered, sending it up into a position near the American dollar.

May added in her speech to the House of Commons, "At moments like this, a great turning point in our nation's story, the choices we make will define the character of our nation."

These choices are Britain's to choose, and now will no longer be mandated by a bunch of smug socialists in Brussels.  The United Kingdom may now "look forward and believe in the enduring power of the British spirit."

"I choose to believe in Britain and that our best days are to come."

The historic six-page letter launching the break-up process was handed over eight months after the people delivered their verdict in the EU referendum by a majority vote.

While Britain is leaving the European Union, the British intend to remain a trading partner with the various countries of the union, calling for a broad free trade agreement, and urging an early deal to guarantee rights for E.U. nationals living in Britain and the number of Britons living on the continent. 

The E.U.'s chief said he would stand up for the interests of the 27 remaining states.

He insisted the E.U. will act "constructively" but "as one" (sounds like the Borg collective, for some reason, to me), and was determined to "preserve our interests."

Outgoing French president Francois Hollande warned that the outcome would be "painful" for Britain.  I have a feeling Britain's economic position will strengthen, and the socialists of Europe will stand confused as the United Kingdom becomes more prosperous as a direct result of breaking ties with the European collective.

While today is momentous regarding Brexit, the divorce is still only in its earliest stages.  The timeline set out in the Lisbon Treaty reveals that the U.K. will officially leave the E.U. for good, with absolutely no turning back, and with the long divorce finally being over, when Big Ben, an iconic clock tower in London, strikes midnight at the end of the day on March 29, 2019 - two years in the future. 

Meanwhile, as all of this is going on, Scotland, who largely was against Brexit, is strengthening their bid for leaving the United Kingdom and creating a sovereign Scotland, which would then apply to rejoin the European Union.

Scotland's Parliament voted 69 to 59 to approve plans to request a referendum on independence a few hours before May's team delivered the Brexit letter to the European Union.

Prime Minister Theresa May has already rejected Scotland's decision.  She must, after all, agree to any legally binding referendum on Scotland’s future.

In the Brexit vote eight months earlier Scotland voted 62 percent to 38 percent against Brexit, showing the difference of opinion between Scottish and English politics when it comes to the decision to remain members of the mainland collective.  Northern Ireland also, by a majority vote, disagreed with England and Wales, about whether or not to remain in the European Union, amid fears that a withdrawal could weaken the peace process there with the Republic of Ireland.
Mrs May told the House of Commons that Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast would be stronger after Brexit.  

In a plea for unity, Mrs. May said the U.K. should be "no longer defined by the vote we cast, but by our determination to make a success of the result."

"We are one great union of people and nations with a proud history and a bright future," she added.
"This great national moment needs a great national effort," she said. 

According to Prime Minister May, Britain will continue to be willing allies and close friends with Europe as long as the continental union doesn't try to punish Britain for Brexit.

In the divorce letter it states, "We believe that these objectives are in the interests not only of the United Kingdom but of the European Union and the wider world too.  It is in the best interests of both the United Kingdom and the European Union that we should use the forthcoming process to deliver these objectives in a fair and orderly manner, and with as little disruption as possible on each side.  We want to make sure that Europe remains strong and prosperous and is capable of projecting its values, leading in the world, and defending itself from security threats."
 
The House of Commons was packed for the Prime Minister's message to announce the triggering of Article 50.

She said, "The Government wants to approach our discussions with ambition, giving citizens and businesses in the United Kingdom and the European Union – and indeed from third countries around the world – as much certainty as possible, as early as possible."

The letter also took into consideration the fact that Ireland remains a European Union member.  The Republic of Ireland is the only EU member state with a land border with the United Kingdom, and according to the letter it is a goal to "avoid a return to a hard border between our two countries, to be able to maintain the Common Travel Area between us, and to make sure that the U.K.’s withdrawal from the EU does not harm the Republic of Ireland. We also have an important responsibility to make sure that nothing is done to jeopardize the peace process in Northern Ireland, and to continue to uphold the Belfast Agreement."

May's letter urges the E.U. to avoid putting Britain in a situation where the fluid border between Northern Ireland and the Republic was at risk - pointing out that could imperil the peace process.

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage celebrated the formal notification that the United Kingdom is leaving the E.U. with a pint at a pub in Westminster.  

Jubilant Ukip representatives also staged a party in Brussels to mark the beginning of the end for Britain's E.U. membership.

Rocker Roger Daltrey, lead singer of The Who, is elated about Brexit. “We are getting out, and when the dust settles I think that it’ll be seen that it’s the right thing for this country to have done, that’s for sure.”

He added, “I am not anti-European, but I an anti the present way we are being governed in Europe. It’s got nothing to do with any of the immigration issues or any of that for me. It was to do with much more. The majority of this country felt that their voices weren’t being heard. It would have been nice to do a deal with Europe but they didn’t want to do a deal, and they sent Cameron back with a bag.”

Daltrey went on, “I’m sad we voted how we voted, but I think we have to go with it now. This country will always be alright, I don’t worry about it. You know it’s going to be bumpy on the way—we expected that; the ones that voted to get out. But Iceland had it a bit bumpy when they went bankrupt, but oh not now.”

When asked about American politics, while he did not necessarily declare himself to be a Trump supporter, Daltrey said of Hillary Clinton, the "Democrats threw it away by putting [Hilary Clinton] up. A dead dog would have won it against [her], look at that."

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

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