BREXIT

THE JINGOISM OF BRITISH CONSERVATIVES

Leading UK conservatives act as if they know everything. But they know little about the world outside

The UK was a pivotal player in EUROPEAN affairs. In keeping with its favorite historic role as the “offshore balancer,” it has served as a somewhat distant, but effective member of the EU until now.

ABANDONING ITS HISTORICAL ROLE

That the UK would effectively remove itself from that vital role via the BREXIT vote is one of the most stunning acts of isolationism in our time.

That BRITAIN’S conservatives were the ones to bring this move about is even more stunning, considering that they are usually the ones to preserve — not wreck — deeply engrained national traditions.

To add madness to all this short-sightedness, BRITISH conservatives also argued that an important reason for pulling up the drawbridge and removing their country from the continent’s politics was GERMANY’S “dominance” in EUROPEAN affairs.

That is the height of folly and irrationality. After all, BREXIT makes this scenario much more probable.

UK CONSERVATIVES: JINGOISM RULES

This turn of events should not come as a surprise in a political camp that increasingly panders to jingoism.

That is a deliberate choice on the part of the Tories. By playing to anti-foreigner sentiments, they expand their voting pool.

Most leading conservative politicians in the UK also hold a world view where the UK is plainly superior to all other cultures. They act as if they are there to judge everything and everybody, while really being not knowledgeable about the rest of the world. No language skills, no first-hand insights.

TABLOIDS AS ENFORCERS OF ANTI-FOREIGNER MINDSETS

Perhaps the most important factor the Tories are utilizing is the bosses of BRITISH media empires. They are calling on their journalistic brigades to whip the BRITISH people into an anti-foreigner frenzy.

The peculiar irony in this curious display of media power? Most of the owners of the mass circulation tabloid newspapers are either foreigners themselves – or, equally apropos in PANAMA Papers times, they do not pay taxes in BRITAIN.

RUPERT MURDOCH owns tabloids like THE SUN and the establishment THE TIMES newspaper. The owners of the middle-class’s favorite paper, the DAILY TELEGRAPH, live in tax exile, as does LORD ROTHERMERE, the owner of the influential DAILY MAIL, with 16 million online readers.

THERESA MAY: A PRISONER OF DARK FORCES

THERESA MAY, the new Prime Minister, is a prisoner of these forces, no matter how reasonable and rational she may want to act.

It was DAVID CAMERON who not only conceived of the BREXIT referendum idea but who, like the sorcerer’s apprentice, let the jingoism out of the bottle.

THERESA MAY may try to become the master of these dark forces. However, no amount of lofty rhetoric about independence will heal the deep level of resentment that sears BRITISH society.

BREXIT REFERENDUM IS NON-BINDING

Photo: Global Research

UK PARLIAMENT NOT VOTERS HAS FINAL SAY

Prime Minister CAMERON has announced his resignation effective in October, a new Conservative Prime minister is to appointed following the Conservative Party conference.

Among the contenders for the Conservative Party leadership are former London Mayor BORIS JOHNSON and Justice Secretary MICHAEL GOVE, both of whom were firm supporters of the BREXIT campaign. Home Secretary THERESA MAY is also a potential contender.

The implementation of BREXIT is in part dependent upon the new leadership of the Conservative Party. There are divisions in both Conservative and opposition parties with regard to BREXIT.

At this stage, there is, however, no assurance that the Brexit proposal will be ratified by Parliament.

Moreover, CAMERON’S decision to resign in October contributes to delaying the process.

EXAGGERATED TURMOIL REGARDING BREXIT

All the fuss and bother about BREXIT largely ignores its non-binding status – parliament, not voters deciding if BRITAIN stays or leaves the EU, the latter extremely unlikely.

Writing in the Financial Times, BRITISH lawyer DAVID ALLEN GREEN explained BREXIT voting is “advisory,” not “mandatory.” Parliament has final say.

MPs can legally disregard the public’s will either way, they alone empowered to decide the path BRITAIN chooses.

What happens ahead is “a matter of politics not law. It will come down to what is politically expedient and practicable,” said GREEN.

Various options exist, including supporting Thursday’s outcome, ignoring it, or “re-negotiating another deal and put (ting) that to another referendum” – repeating the process “until voters eventually vote the ‘right’ way,” what’s best for monied interests, not them.

Invoking Article 50 of the LISBON Treaty is another matter entirely, legally binding, unlike Thursday’s vote. It states as follows:

“1. Any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements.

2. A Member State which decides to withdraw shall notify the EUROPEAN Council of its intention. In the light of the guidelines provided by the EUROPEAN Council, the Union shall negotiate and conclude an agreement with that State, setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with the Union.

That agreement shall be negotiated in accordance with Article 218(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EUROPEAN UNION. It shall be concluded on behalf of the Union by the Council, acting by a qualified majority, after obtaining the consent of the EUROPEAN Parliament.

3. The Treaties shall cease to apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification referred to in paragraph 2, unless the EUROPEAN Council, in agreement with the Member State concerned, unanimously decides to extend this period.

4. For the purposes of paragraphs 2 and 3, the member of the EUROPEAN Council or of the Council representing the withdrawing Member State shall not participate in the discussions of the EUROPEAN Council or Council or in decisions concerning it.

A qualified majority shall be defined in accordance with Article 238(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EUROPEAN UNION.

5. If a State which has withdrawn from the Union asks to rejoin, its request shall be subject to the procedure referred to in Article 49.”

POLITICS ALONE WILL DRIVE WHAT HAPPENS AHEAD, NOT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE

GREEN highlighted key points. Member states can choose how to vote on withdrawal – by referendum, parliament or other means.

The withdrawal process begins with formal notification. Once “given, the member state and the EU are stuck with it.”

Member states wishing to withdraw have up to two years maximum to complete the process “unless this period is extended by unanimous agreement.”

Once withdrawal intentions are announced and initiated, there’s no going back. At the same time, what’s “created by international agreement can be undone” the same way.

BRUSSELS could “come up with some muddling fudge which holds off the two year deadline,” or a new treaty amendment could be adopted.

Politics alone will drive what happens ahead, not the will of the people. BRITAIN is no more democratic than AMERICA – nor are any other EU countries.

Special interests decide things. Whatever they want they get. However voting turns out, government policy “is to remain in the EU,” said GREEN.

Leaving would require Prime Minister DAVID CAMERON invoking Article 50, unlikely given his vocal opposition to BREXIT.

By Stephen Lendman via Global Research