The Economist: Britain is sailing into a storm with no one at the wheel
IT WAS a troubling exchange. On live television Faisal Islam, the political editor of SkyNews, was recounting a conversation with a pro-Brexit Conservative MP. “I said to him: ‘Where’s the plan? Can we see the Brexit plan now?’ [The MP replied:] ‘There is no plan. The Leave campaign don’t have a post-Brexit plan…Number 10 should have had a plan.’” The camera cut to Anna Botting, the anchor, horror chasing across her face. For a couple of seconds they were both silent, as the point sunk in. “Don’t know what to say to that, actually,” she replied, looking down at the desk. Then she cut to a commercial break.
Sixty hours have gone by since a puffy-eyed David Cameron appeared outside 10 Downing Street and announced his resignation. The pound has tumbled. Investment decisions have been suspended; already firms talk of moving operations overseas. Britain’s EU commissioner has resigned. Sensitive political acts—the Chilcot report’s publication, decisions on a new London airport runway and the renewal of Britain’s nuclear deterrent—are looming. European leaders are shuttling about the continent meeting and discussing what to do next. Those more sympathetic to Britain are looking for signs from London of how they can usefully influence discussions. At home mounting evidence suggests a spike in racist and xenophobic attacks on immigrants. Scotland is heading for another independence referendum. Northern Ireland’s peace settlement may hang by a thread.
But at the top of British politics, a vacuum yawns wide. The phones are ringing, but no one is picking up.
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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- June 27, 2016
How 'Leave' beat back a U.S. consultant led effort to remian in the EU -- Sean Miller, Campaigns and Elections
Will article 50 ever be triggered? -- Jon Henley, The Guardian
There Is a Small but Real Possibility That Brexit Will Never Happen -- Joshua Keating, Slate
British pound could hit history-making dollar parity by end of 2016 -- Joseph Adinolfi, Market Watch
US-Russia Tensions Complicate Syria War -- Heather Murdock, VOA
Turkey and Russia Reconcile -- Krishnadev Calamur, The Atlantic
Israel and Turkey have reconciled, now what? -- Ben Caspit, Al-Monitor
Turkey seeks to mend fences with Israel, Russia in foreign policy reset -- Reuters
Analysis: The winner from the Israel-Turkey détente - Hamas -- Ariel Ben Solomon, Jerusalem Post
How Will China React To The Gavel Coming Down On The UNCLOS Ruling? - Patrick Cronin, War On The Rocks
How worried is China by the prospect of Brexit? -- Stephen McDonell, BBC
Spain's second general election in six months brings more uncertainty -- Giles Tremlett, The Guardian
Spain election: Can Rajoy make new election victory count? -- Sarah Rainsford, BBC
It’s the end of the world as we know it – again -- Tony Karon, The National
The Military Origins of the Cardigan -- Allison Geller, The Atlantic
Bloody dreadful.
ReplyDeleteI believe the exit when I see it.
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