KT edit: Britain can only delay a painful Brexit

The ruling conservatives are divided so is the opposition Labour Party.

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Published: Wed 30 Jan 2019, 6:00 PM

Last updated: Wed 30 Jan 2019, 8:46 PM

Buy time. That's British Prime Minister Theresa May's best Plan B for Brexit. Delay the split from the European Union by another six months from the originally scheduled March 29 deadline. This could give her breathing space to renegotiate with the EU for more concessions and make the exit less painful. Demands are out of the question for it is Britain that wanted out two years ago; May can only plead with Brussels for a better deal for her country that is being torn apart by petty politicking when realpolitik is called for.
A fair deal is ruled out under these circumstances, and a no-deal could leave Britain in the dumps with corporates and businesses likely to make a run for it. A practical Plan B to discuss an extension is the PM's only chance to come up with an alternative pact, if ever there is one. For three years, parliament and the government have not been able to implement the will of the people - which was a clean break from the European Union. Politicians on both sides of the fence have bickered, dithered and brought governance to a standstill believing they could strike a pact with Brussels that is standing its ground.
The ruling conservatives are divided so is the opposition Labour Party. PM Theresa May has at least tried to implement the will of the people by talking to the EU for a favourable deal while Labour has called for a second referendum. But that would render the first referendum null and void. Such a demand is against the spirit of democracy so is the demand by Labour not to exit under a no-deal scenario.
What Labour fails to grasp is the fact that Britain is in no position to bargain and arm-twist the EU into submission and force them to accede to British demands. Only pleas will work with Brussels, and the PM understands this more than anyone in her party or in the opposition. The Irish backstop is the concession May has wrangled. She can buy time if politicians behave. If they play truant again, her efforts will go down the drain.
 


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