Today Thursday, June 23, the UK’s EU referendum is occurring. Pollsters have been saying right up to the end that the race is very tight.
People at Jo Cox Vigil in London’s Parliament Square
According to BBC World News, a UK TV program, it has been such a heated issue that last week it caused one British politician, MP (Member of Parliament) Jo Cox, to lose her life. She was passionately pro-EU.
Did Jo Cox’s murder sufficiently sway public sentiment toward the UK staying in the European Union? Soon we should have a good idea whether future historians might speak of Jo Cox’s death as the singular event that nudged voters to preserve the status quo.
High Stakes Indeed
Political careers hinge on the outcome. And one way or another, the results will impact both the UK’s economy and world’s fragile financial recovery.
Each side, Remain or Leave, has forecasted negative consequences for the UK if it doesn’t win and substantial benefits if it does.
The possibility of Britain leaving the EU also is causing anxiety on the continent.
EU officials are concerned that result would encourage other euro-sceptics to push for their own referendums. And the loss of UK’s EU donations would significantly cramp the EU’s budget. So, some wonder if Germany and others will have second thoughts about carrying insolvent Greece and seek to form a much smaller, more unified politico-economic entity instead.
Either situation, or a combination of both, fractures today’s Europe and endangers the peace the West has experienced since World War II.
Special Status or Independence
A vote became a certainty a couple of years ago, according to a BBC article, The UK’s EU referendum: All you need to know, updated 22 June 2016.
“Prime Minister David Cameron promised to hold one if he won the 2015 general election, in response to growing calls from his own Conservative MPs and the UK Independence Party (UKIP), who argued that Britain had not had a say since 1975 … The EU has changed a lot since then, gaining more control over our daily lives, they argued.”
The question was posed about whether David Cameron tried to change the rules of the UK’s EU membership. And BBC replied in the article,
“Yes. This was the big news back in January and February as David Cameron sought an agreement with other European Union leaders to change the terms of Britain’s membership. He says the deal, which will take effect immediately if the UK votes to remain in the EU, gives Britain “special” status within the 28 nation club, and will help sort out some of the things British people say they don’t like about the EU, such as high levels of immigration and giving up the ability to run our own affairs.”
Bumpy Road Ahead?
No matter what the UK decides, just raising the question has soured relationships. And should the EU disintegrate anytime soon, advocates for a 21st century united Europe may well decide to blame England for the EU’s demise.
So which will it be, a rEUnion or a Brexit? Not long from now, everyone will know for sure.
Update
Breaking News June 24th 5:37 AM BST: It is a Brexit. The UK has voted to leave the EU by 52% to 48%. Scotland and Northern Ireland voted – Remain; Wales and England voted – Leave.
Photo credits: Vigil by Steve Eason and Flag by portal gda; Licenses: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Related In the News article: October 6, 2014
