Lack of clear plan for Brexit has negative impact on British economy and social moods

Aug. 9, 2016 - PRLog -- The UK's decision to exit the European Union taken with only a small majority in a referendum on 23 June continues to cause divisions within the United Kingdom.

According to the observers, numerous demonstrations and protests organized by the supporters of European integration throughout the country highlight the split of the nation based on age, social and geographic grounds.

In particular, the Scottish National Party – the third largest party at Westminster – expressed the intention to block a UK Government plan for Brexit.

"Theresa May can serve Article 50 without going to the House of Commons but she needs to get the Brexit plan for what happens next through the House of Commons and there isn't a majority for Brexit in the House of Commons, which she knows full well. So our votes, our 56 votes in the House of Commons are going to be quite critical to her getting something through," SNP deputy leader candidate Tommy Sheppard said.

Commenting on the social moods in the United Kingdom, European politics expert Simon Usherwood, University of Surrey, said that the British are particularly concerned about the unknown future.

"As much as people still care, there is unhappiness about the lack of progress and the lack of a clear plan. However, protests are unlikely to help change this," he said.

According to him, the situation may become more clear in 2017.

"Probably only in early 2017 will we have of Article 50, by which time we should also have some idea of what each side is looking to achieve," Simon Usherwood added.

However, to date, the UK's decision to exit the European Union significantly complicated the situation in the country.

"Economically, the main impact is uncertainty, which is delaying investment decisions. Politically, it has opened up the internal problems of the Labor party, which will be very complicated to resolve," the expert explained.

In turn, Simon Lightfoot, researcher of European Politics at the University of Leeds, suggested that the new government will need time to work out its demands, what it is willing to compromise on and what its red lines are.

"The key issues are access to single market and free movement. The government has to try and get as much access to the single market whilst accepting a political acceptable level of free movement. The current round of visits by Theresa May suggest that she is taking soundings from the key players in EU capitals," he told PenzaNews.

Source: http://penzanews.ru/en/analysis/62362-2016