Can Brexit Be Stopped? An In-Depth Exploration
Brexit has been a divisive and significant political event that has the potential to have a huge impact on the United Kingdom and on Europe more broadly. The June 2016 Brexit referendum saw the narrow majority of Britons voting to leave the European Union. Since then, the UK has seen much upheaval as the nation debates a policy of leaving the EU and its associated consequences. Many people have asked if Brexit can still be stopped, thus ensuring that the UK would remain within the EU. This article aims to further explore this question.
What Is Brexit?
Brexit is a portmanteau word from the combination of the words “Britain” and “exit”. It is the term used to refer to the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. On 23 June 2016, a referendum was held in the UK in which the British public voted on whether they were in favor of leaving the EU or of remaining as a member. It resulted in 51.9% of voters opting to leave, thus activating the Article 50 withdrawal process for the UK. This process was completed on 31 January 2020 when the UK officially left the EU.
Current Political Situation
Following the UK’s exit from the EU, the next step was to come to an agreement on the details of the relationship between the two. This included issues such as regulations and trade between the UK and the EU. Negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) occurred over the course of 2020, but ultimately an agreement was reached. The terms of the FTA began on 1 January 2021, marking the start of a new era in UK-EU relations.
The UK is currently in an unprecedented situation, being in a relationship with the EU but not being formally part of it. The government has stated that there will be no extension to the current transition period, meaning that the UK will no longer be part of the single market or the customs union. This means that there will be changes to regulations, borders, and so on.
Public Opinion
Polling from last year showed that the British public remain divided on the issue of Brexit. According to YouGov, those in favor of leaving the EU still outnumbered those in favor of remaining by around four percentage points. This has changed very little since the referendum result. Public opinion is also divided on the issue of whether Brexit should be stopped. Recent polling has found that a minority of around 27% of people believe that the Brexit process should be stopped, with the remainder either not knowing or being undecided.
The Pros and Cons of Stopping Brexit
The debate over whether Brexit can be stopped has seen the exploration of numerous arguments both in favor of and against the idea. We will look at the main arguments on both sides in the following section.
Arguments For Stopping Brexit
One of the arguments in favor of stopping Brexit is that it would avoid the significant economic disruption that leaving the EU would entail. The UK’s economy is deeply integrated into the European single market, with millions of jobs and businesses reliant on this trade. There is a risk that leaving the EU could damage the UK economy, and staying in the EU would help preserve this.
Stopping Brexit could also avoid the issues caused by the UK no longer being part of the single market or the customs union. This could cause issues with importing goods, as well as the introduction of tariffs on some goods. Furthermore, staying in the EU could help protect human rights, since the UK is bound by the European Convention of Human Rights.
Arguments Against Stopping Brexit
The argument against stopping Brexit is that it would go against the democratic decision of the British public in the 2016 referendum. The UK population voted in favor of leaving the EU, and reversing this decision would go against the democratic wishes of the people. Furthermore, there is a risk that staying in the EU could cause further disruption due to the UK’s commitment to further European integration. It could create further division, with those in favor of leaving feeling that the result of the referendum had been overturned.
Can Brexit Be Stopped?
The question of whether Brexit can still be stopped depends on a number of factors. Firstly, there would need to be a clear majority in the UK opposing Brexit in order for the government to intervene. This is not the case at present, with opinion polls indicating that the public is still evenly split on the issue.
Furthermore, there could also need to be a change in the law in order for Brexit to be stopped. It is unclear whether the UK could legally revoke Article 50 and undo the decision taken in the referendum using existing legislation. It may require the passage of new laws in order for this to be done.
Alternative Options
For those who favor the UK staying in the EU, there may be other options available to them. For instance, the UK could try to negotiate an arrangement with the EU that would preserve the benefits of being a member state, without being a full member. This could include issues such as access to the single market, or the ability for UK citizens to travel visa-free and work in the EU. Such an arrangement would still require the consent of the other members of the EU, however.
The answer to whether Brexit can be stopped is unclear. The British public remains divided on the issue and the legal issues surrounding such a move are complex. For those wishing to stop Brexit, there may be other options available to them such as seeking a different arrangement with the EU or campaigning for a different referendum. Only time will tell whether Brexit can be stopped or not.
