Brexit: A Nation Divided

It looks like EU and I just aren’t meant to be together. Joking aside, 52% of the United Kingdom just voted to leave the European Union. You know what that is, right? It’s a partnership between European nations both economically and defensively. Okay, it sounds great, grand, and glorious and as a matter of fact, it is. But if it’s so grand and glorious, why would they vote to leave? We’ll get into depth with that soon, but personally, I think the UK should stay.

Before anything else, you should probably know the breakdown of votes across the United Kingdom: England voted strongly to leave by 53% to 47%, as did Wales with 52% voting the same. Scotland and Northern Ireland however went the other way with 62% and 55% votes to stay and leave, respectively. Now, you may be wondering why the UK would want to stay, when the economic cost of EU membership is 11% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or around £200 billion, and when the UK can independently pursue international trade once it leaves the EU. I’ve been wondering on that too, but I’ve been thinking more about the effects on the people rather than the country as a name. For one, the Union has introduced many directives which help the British workers. A few examples of these are regulated working hours, paid parental leave, and anti-discrimination laws. Just the sound of that already makes you feel like staying, doesn’t it?

Second, the UK will have a seat at the EU table. In other words, the UK can and will have a say on various regulations and decisions, effectively having a hand on how rules are implemented. Nothing sounds better than having an economic partnership and building the rules at the same time. Lastly, some effects on the British people if they stayed in the Union include visa-less travel across partner nations and lessening the burden on the almost 3 million UK jobs reliant on the EU.

One valid reason of wanting to leave the EU however is the issue of immigration. The UK has no control over who goes in from other EU nations, heightening the fears of sickness and terrorism in the pro-Brexit community. I can’t blame them, after all that’s been happening in the world.

Amidst this, I still think that the United Kingdom should stay with the European Union. There is still time to change minds, as UK Prime Minister Theresa May is yet to finalize the Leave decision. Terms can still be negotiated and rules can be passed around, but one thing is certain: the United Kingdom, as of now, is a nation divided and each opinion is just as strong as the votes to Leave or Remain. The people have power, and it is in their power to decide the future of their country.

#BrExit