In 2016, Britain voted in a referendum to Leave the EU known as Brexit  (European Union). It is a political union, often called the EU for common economic, foreign, security, and justice policies.) it is made of 28 nations including Britain. Brexit has three significant parts the British government needs to agree on before March 29, which is the deadline for the deal: 1. The rights of EU and UK citizens 2. The financial settlement of 50 billion to the EU and 3. The thick border AKA, the Backstop Britain, will have to implement on the Irish border.  The British government is no closer to brokering a deal today than in 2016.

According to the world bank, Britain receives 59% of its GDP from global trade. Mr. Mabbott, an IHS teacher, stated, “Britain leaving the EU is a bit like Massachusetts leaving the united states; it would be a mess to deal with logistically.”

The United States may broker a favorable trade deal with Britain, but the nations need to agree on food regulations. If a no deal within Brexit goes down, it could mean a financial recession for Britain similar to the 2008 financial crisis in America, which is horrible news for the Pound and the global economy.  A former Director General of the World Trade Organization, Pascal Lamy, has said “What happens in the next days is you move down from the first league to the fourth league, and you have to apply tariffs, borders, controls, and I’m not talking about specific arrangements of airlines, capital markets, nuclear safety. It’s not ready, nobody is ready, for a no deal, which is, by the way, the reason I think it will not happen. People are wise enough not to jump off the cliff without a parachute.” Brexit passed in large part because the older conservative base was irritated by the increasing rate of immigration from the recent migrant crisis.

Currently, in Britain, anybody with an EU passport can gain access into Europe, which is subject to change in the deal. Ireland is remaining in, so Britain would have to put up a solid border with border checkpoints in British Northern Ireland, a costly and complex issue which could cause violence and unrest in the area.

Furthermore, the UK and Ireland would be in different markets and customs unions, so every product and right would have to be checked before transport over the border. This will make British imports and exports more expensive.

The British have three viable options: 1. referendum putting Brexit to another national vote 2. new deal 3. general election which would allow a new government would be elected to solve Brexit. Elsa Anderson, an IHS student who was just in England visiting a college, said, “I don’t think Britain leaving the EU is a good thing because it prevents and makes travel to the UK more difficult and hurts the UK’s relationships with the EU.” She went on to state, “Currency becomes less consistent, and trade and economic relations become skewed and tense. Countries that support Britain as its entity may have trouble with trade agreements with countries who want Britain to stay in the EU.”
In conclusion, Britain will remain a close security Ally with Europe but with the Brexit date looming and no deal proposed, the economic future of Britain and the EU is in jeopardy.  Will Britain leap into national independence or will it take a jump off a cliff without a parachute? Only time will tell.