Reality Starting To Sink In Re Difficulty Of Brexit

Britain’s ambassador to the European Union delivered some sobering news to Theresa May’s government when he suggested that Brexit negotiations could actually take a decade to conclude. The government did not deny the ambassador’s comments but spun it to say they reflected the views of European leaders. I’m not sure that makes it much better, since those are the very people Britain will be negotiating with. In an additional embarrassment and a rather pointed maneuver that expressed the current European attitude toward Brexit, May was asked to leave a dinner at a gathering in Brussels so that the remaining Europeans could discuss their own strategy relating to Britain’s exit.

Theresa May’s government seemed to be in chaos over how to approach Brexit. Now, it appears the government has begun backtracking in a number of ways. David Davis, the prime British negotiator for Brexit, proposed that idea of a transitional arrangement if negotiations could not be concluded in the two-year window. He also raised the possibility that Britain could still make budget contributions to the European Union in exchange for other privileges, presumably access to European markets. I’m not sure Brexit hardliners would be too happy about that stance. And they certainly will be furious with Davis’ view that Britain might be able to revoke its decision to exit the European Union after it had already invoked Article 50. Davis said he did not anticipate this happening, but it sounds like he is proposing a way for Britain to completely back out of Brexit if negotiations look like they will drag on forever or the European demands are just too harsh. Article 50 has not yet been invoked and already Britain is beginning to back off the more extreme Brexit positions. It’s beginning to look like the line in the sand for Britain is control of its own borders. I’m not sure even that will fly with the Europeans. Nor am I sure that monetary contributions to Europe in exchange for certain privileges will fly with British voters.