By Chathushka Perera
LONDON, UK (CWBN)_ As the impending guillotine is expected to sever UK’s influential and determining partnerships with the European Union (EU) in December, much is left in the balance as Chief Brexit Negotiator for the UK, David Frost, stated on Sunday that a trade deal may not come through, just prior to the last round of negotiations with the EU.
The revelation hails after Irish Foreign Minister, Simon Coveney’s warnings of a “no deal” Brexit after the British Government’s failed attempt to push an Internal Market Bill through the House of Lords, a week ago, which was in direct contravention of Brexit negotiations and international law. The move was also criticized by US President-elect, Joe Biden.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been insistent on a “no deal” Brexit, as reported late last month, which led to furious debates parliament that left former Prime Minister, Theresa May, in a state of shock.
Local news channels reported that, May had called the Government’s plans “utter rubbish” while off-camera, noting the concerns shared by local police with respect to the loss of EU arrest warrants, live passenger-date access and rapid counter-terror operations, post-Brexit.
Although predominantly a trade deal, the agreement includes provisions on other sectors, including national security and law enforcement cooperations with the EU, however, the British Government maintains that a deal as such, surrenders national sovereignty and powers to the EU, even after Brexit, as it requires the UK to adhere to certain levels of oversight, which is a disqualification of the Brexit referendum, instigated by May.
Should the UK continue to sour its relationship with the EU, the issue would also reflect with respect to its relationships with neighbouring EU members and also domestically with regard to Scotland and Northern Ireland, leaving the UK more isolated than it has ever been and even more dependent upon its “special relationship” with the US.
Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK has suffered horrific losses both in terms of public health and economically, particularly when compared to the effect of the virus in other parts of Europe.
Even as the UK reports a recovery from the recession suffered during the second quarter, a much severe dip is expected following the second lockdown, which was imposed due to an inability to control infection and death rates in the country. Hence, the UK could expect an additional contribution to the dip should it have to press into 2021 without a trade deal with the EU.
As political tensions reach unprecedented heights, Dominic Cummings, who has been playing the role of Chief of Staff in Downing Street is expected to jump ship next month, following the lead of his long-term colleague, Lee Cain, the PM’s former Director of Communications. Both Cummings and Cain were stringent supporters of the “Leave Vote” and later of Johnson, having forced May to step down.
Edited by Elishya Perera
