Britain After Brexit (Part II)

March 30. 2018

This month marks 1-year since the British government triggered Article 50, to formally solidify and initiate the nation's vote to leave the European Union. Under existing EU agreements, once Article 50 is triggered, there is a 2-year timeframe required to leave the European Union. This means on its current course, Britain will be out of the European Union in 1-year.

This also means the loss of access to the lucrative Single Market, where European Union states trade goods and services at more favorable rates. The Brexit campaign to leave the European Union promised Britons that Britain would remain in the Single Market. As an observer, I found that perplexing, as why would the EU grant a non-member state special access to the Single Market, which is a privilege of members of the European Union.

After the vote, British Prime Minister Theresa May announced Britain would no longer have special access to the Single Market, as it will be a "hard Brexit." This means Britain is scheduled to be out of the Customs Union as well. Business owners in Britain who trade with the European Union are very upset, as these departures will mean higher tariffs (less profits) and a more stringent set of procedures to ship and clear goods to be sold in the EU.

European Union states and businesses have been pulling their businesses and investments from Britain at a steady rate. A few hundred billion dollars in investments and jobs are being moved out of Britain to EU member nations such as Germany and France. At the end of the day, the European Union, just like any other nations or bloc, must put their interests first.

I have stated for months on this website and Twitter that Britain needs to undertake economic measures to shore up its economy or face financial problems after Brexit. The most recent article is "Britain After Brexit." Not enough has been done for the economy to ensure Britain's future prosperity after Brexit. The trade deals that have been agreed upon are not enough to keep Britain going.

London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, and U.S. President, Donald Trump, have gotten into a war of words on social networking. I repeatedly warned that Khan should refrain from squabbling with Trump online, as Britain needs to complete a trade deal with America, especially after the Brexit vote, in losing more favorable financial access to one of the biggest trading blocs in the world (the EU).

Khan then uninvited Trump from Britain, which was a huge risk, which I warned against on Twitter on December 2, 2017. Then, 3-months later, Trump announced new tariffs. On March 4, 2018, Prime Minister May was alarmed at Trump's announcement and spoke of her shock and concern at the new tariffs, which couldn't come at a worse time for Britain (see "Story Source" below for external article link). This is what I was warning about for months.

My tweets on Twitter.com

Trump is putting America first, which is what a head of state is supposed to do. The British government has not always put Britain first, via getting into the Iraq war with former President George W. Bush, which Britons did not want and has created terrorists who have attacked the U.K. Former British Prime Minister, David Cameron, also engaged in questionable conduct at the request of former President, Barack Obama and it was not in Britain's best interest. Those "chickens are going to come home to roost" in the form of scandals. Obama does not even like Britain and has insulted the nation. Obama was not looking out for Britain's best interests and Cameron should not have gone along with what he illegally requested.

I know that Khan, a Muslim, is upset over the Muslim ban Trump enacted in America, as he sees it as a means of protecting the United States from terrorists. Prior to and after the ban was enacted, I stated on this site that I am not in favor of the Muslim ban and I am not of the belief it will fix the terrorism problem that is harming innocent people in the West. You don't want to hurt and offend Muslims who mean America no harm. 

Khan is the Mayor of London. He represents London. He is not a private citizen like me or any of my fellow writers and blogger, who can say whatever we like about most subjects on social networking. Khan has to choose his words wisely for a number of reasons. The trade deal is one reason. Tourism is another, as offending Trump supporters who are potential tourists is not a good idea. You don't want to make people feel unwelcome to Britain, as tourism represents billions of pounds per year to people and businesses in the United Kingdom.

Just like there are people who oppose Trump in Britain, he has fans who maintain a presence on social networking. They are in favor of Brexit and Trump. They have voiced their displeasure online at Khan uninviting Trump from Britain. Lastly, Trump's mother is Scottish. Under British law he can apply to become a citizen of Britain. Trump has British blood in him. He is ethnically part British. Banning him from Britain in light of these facts is ironic and Khan does not have the authority to do so.

Some British people online have stated they will protest if Trump comes to Britain and under the law they have a right to do so. That's how democracy works. After all, people have protested visits by former presidents, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, over wars in the Middle east. Even this month, Britons protested the arrival of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in London, due to the war in Yemen. Banning Trump when Britain needs to get the trade deal done and he is part British, is once again ironic and not in Britain's best interests (financially).  

Another matter of concern is the British government is isolating Britain in the world. The departure from the EU has not been handled well by some. Select politicians mocked the EU before and after the Brexit vote (i.e. Nigel Farage). This was not a good idea, as the EU represents 28 nations and over 500,000,000 consumers. Furthermore, you were friends for so long. They are your neighbors. You have helped each other and they have been your top ally.

Offending the EU and parting on bad terms due to the things some, not all, politicians have publicly stated, is not in Britain's best interest. Some politicians are offending EU citizens as well, whom you should want as tourists. If you must go through with leaving the EU, part on professional terms. It is not beneficial to treat your friends like enemies. The British government is isolating Britain in reference to the Commonwealth as well. Once again, it's not beneficial to treat your friends like enemies.

A financial committee is needed of brilliant minds, because Britain is facing a significant challenge regarding Brexit in reference to trying to maintain prosperity and achieving growth. As stated on this site previously, there needs to be undercutting and new financial incentives put in place in the City to attract global investments. Another item I stated previously is some of the factories that were closed when Britain began engaging in less manufacturing, need to be reopened.

You cannot relyon the real estate market, as prices have fallen in the face of Brexit. In one way it is bad, as it means homeowners lose wealth regarding property values. However, it has one positive in that more Britons should be able to afford homes in London as prices drop.

If Brexit goes through and not enough sizeable trade deals are struck, Britain is going to meet with a reversal of fortune, as stated previously on the site. It has already begun with the amount of wealth and jobs being moved out of Britain. This is not a good development, as it has the potential to change the British way of life in reference to standard of living (housing standards, street and park maintenance, hospital care, schools, jobs and benefits).

I'm stating facts. If an aggressive, astute and groundbreaking financial plan is not undertaken and fast, the British economy is going to experience significant problems in leaving the European Union in one-year, as not enough has been done to counter the effects of the departure. I understand Britain wants its sovereignty back, but at what cost.

STORY SOURCE

Theresa May tells Donald Trump of 'deep concern' over trade war threat

4 March 2018 at 5:39pm - Theresa May has told Donald Trump of her "deep concern" at the president's plan to introduce tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to the United States which have sparked fears of a trade war. It comes after the Prime Minister's de facto deputy, David Lidington, rebuked Mr Trump for threatening a trade battle with the European Union. Trump threatens to raise tariffs on European cars.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said a phone call took place between Mrs may and Mr Trump on Sunday. "The Prime Minister raised our deep concern at the President's forthcoming announcement on steel and aluminium tariffs, noting that multilateral action was the only way to resolve the problem of global overcapacity in all parties' interests," the spokeswoman said.

It marks the latest of the pair's clashes, following disagreements over Mr Trump's retweeting of anti-Muslim videos posted by the far-right group Britain First, and his recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. In a further escalation, Mr Trump has said the US "will simply apply a Tax" on cars made in Europe if the EU retaliates against the trade penalties he is seeking on imports of steel and aluminum...

http://www.itv.com

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