Brexit Vote was a Political Earthquake: Expert Opinions

• 06.28.2016, 20:10
•  Europe,  World

christiansinpolitics.org.uk

"The vote to Leave was mainly a protest vote. It was the vote of people who hated "Brussels" and the European Union, but hated London and the international financial system just as much," Senior Associate Carnegie Europe, well-known expert Thomas de Waal wrote this after the majority of the UK voted for Brexit, adding that the UK citizens were given a chance to "reject one of those villains—Brussels—and they did so with enthusiasm."

It is already a week the top topic of discussion has become Brexit and what is more important at this stage - the consequences that it will bring. For some the results of the referendum were expected, others were just shocked how it could happen. In this regard many experts have already started making some predictions. In case of Brexit vote predictions were also made before the referendum itself.

"If a Brexit vote reveals a sharp boundary between Scotland and England, moves to break up Britain would surely follow north of the border. In the medium to long-term we might be waking up one morning blinking in a new England, smaller in every sense," British expert Laurence Broers wrote this on his Facebook before the referendum, when discussing the possibility of Brexit vote.

For Iain Begg from the European Institute, Brexit was a political earthquake, which will have after-shocks throughout the world. "perhaps the biggest uncertainty will be what happens next in the rest of the EU where the fundamental question will be whether an evidently successful 20th Century project remains valid for the 21 st Century," he added, Newsweek wrote.

Touching upon one on the most interesting and maybe an important issue, the future of Scotland and the possible second independence referendum, Paul Cairney, professor of politics and public policy, University of Stirling declared that "it is too soon to tell if this result will prompt a major and sustained upswing in support for independence. This is partly because it is also too soon to predict Scotland’s place in EU negotiations," the Conversation writes.

As for the economic issues, then according to Dr. Juan Paez-Farrell from the University of Sheffield, the investments will be postponed, until there is greater clarity as to when the UK will decide to trigger Article 50. "Much will depend on what arrangements the UK government can agree with the rest of the EU regarding trade and the free market but if the new government decided to cut loose our economic ties to the rest of Europe we can expect substantial costs," he added, sheffield.ac.uk reports.

The Brexit vote is there and the UK has what it has. Maybe now the most important stage will be the negotiations with the EU for a new status and the steps that will be taken towards softening any shakes that may happen – both economically and politically. Who knows, maybe when divorced, both the EU and the UK will leave better off that when together…