Brexit : Oh what a tangled web we weave

One year after the historical outcome of the EU Referendum, this week marks the start of Brexit negotiations. What comes next is anyone's guess.

Like many of you, I am old enough to remember Grexit back in 2012. Funny how things change within a short space of time. Roughly one year after the EU referendum, the PM is trying to prepare her government and the country to begin our imminent divorce from the European Union.

Similar to any other divorce, the stakes are high. The UK must settle separation issues such as alimony payments (i.e. the infamous €100Bn Brexit Bill) ,the rights of EU citizens, agree amicable (hopefully) terms  on how to interface with its EU neighbours post Brexit and, most of all, ensure custody of the future growth and prosperity of the UK.  This is a tall order.

 No doubt humbled by the recent Election outcome the Prime Minister must swallow the pride and arrogance of previous statements and now try to work out the best deal in the interest of the UK and its future.  Throughout the campaign, little was said regarding the repercussions of extracting the UK from the second largest economy in the world or our comfortable seat at the EU table. The electorate remains blissfully naïve of the real ripple effects of Brexit and beyond. To say the UK is unprepared is a gross understatement.

As the PM said after the election, it is time to “get to work”. However this message is roughly twelve months too late, the clock is ticking both figuratively and literally.  The EU referendum exposed the deep fault lines in British society in terms of identity, socioeconomic standing and place.

Some argue that Brexit was a consequence of the growing economic anxiety felt by so many throughout the country. Anxieties relating to being riddled by debt, cash poor, unable to afford a home and threats to social protection are keeping them up at night. This feels like a tipping point; the deepening distrust of institutions combined with profound fissures in our social contract threatens societal cohesion. The system feels rigged as opportunity narrows and inequality grows. There is no doubt in my mind this will be further exacerbated by Brexit if the root causes are not addressed.

In spite of this I think this is a great opportunity for  the UK to confront the painful truths of the UK’s head start in the global economy (largely due to colonialization and the original sins of the transatlantic slave trade), and defines what a Global Britain actually means in the 21^st century. 

Brexit begins at home

To pilfer a phrase from Richard Haas, President of the Council on Foreign Relations, the UK’s foreign policy must begin at home. The government should focus its attention on building a thriving, inclusive domestic UK economy by addressing the high debt to GDP ratio, low productivity and low paid insecure work. It should invest in infrastructure and human capital throughout the country (not just in urban centres) and create an enabling environment for the flourishing of business and innovation.

This may seem counter intuitive but by focusing on strengthening UK PLC and increasing shared prosperity at home for everyone, I am sure that this will vastly widen the avenues for international engagement.

Do not misunderstand me. I am not advocating for a retreat from the global arena. This new 21^st century is characterized by an unpredictable web of the transnational exchanges and rapid pace of technological change, which has impacted every aspect of our lives.

By peering through the lens of history one can observe how change comes quickly, and can significantly alter the economic development of a country. The profitable slave/triangular trade of the 17^th & 18^th century surrendered to the ubiquitous coal mine of the Industrial Revolution. And today, this has given way to wind turbines and solar panels of the new millennia.  Compounding the new state of play are new challenges: transnational criminal organizations, terrorism and virulent viruses and mega bugs. The world is a dangerous place where no one nation can solve its problems on its own.

I believe that the UK must be clever in its negotiating positions. Firstly, it should not wall itself off from its neighbours. What gets lost in the Brexit discussions is that, first and foremost, the European Union is a peace project. Its aim was to use trade and cultural exchanges to fuse the individual national interests of each member state with the collective mission of the European project. This was done to prevent the future outbreak of war. A peaceful and prosperous Europe serves the UK’s interests as well.

Secondly we should not assume that countries outside the EU cannot wait to trade with us. Countries are attracted to each other based on what is on offer. In which areas do our national interests align? What is the UK’s comparative advantage in any given sector? So my advice to the PM is to not descend into old positions. Brexit is not a return to the Great British Empire. The rules of the game have changed. Former colonies such as India are now hitting their stride in spite of the postcolonial handicap, which has dotted their history. Let us be creative and use this opportunity to develop the UK’s international competitiveness, cultivate new key industries and invest in its human capital.

 My final bit of advice is to be agile in how the UK conducts its foreign relations. The recent response to the US withdrawal from the Paris agreement from US cities and companies is a great illustration of how the international system has moved beyond nations and states and centred on networks and alliances.

The UK ought to engage with other countries both at the national (with other state governments) and sub-national level where cities, institutions and networks have established relationships with their peers abroad. This goes beyond defence, security and trade but also in terms of civil society, educational networks and diasporic communities.

The converse is also true as we prepare to end the UK’s marriage to the EU. A lack of a clear mandate requires the PM to be open to input beyond central government; the process must ensure continuous engagement (for its duration) with cities, regions and all political parties which reflect the interests and networks established over the past 40 years. All negotiating positions must be in the best interest of UK PLC which will no doubt require rolling back on previously taken hard-line stances such as withdrawal from EU single market.

Like any divorce, Brexit will be painful. There is no soft landing out of any relationship. Connections linger long after they are broken. I hope that both the process and the outcome keep the social and economic interests and wellbeing of the UK population at the centre of any decision or position taken.