Brexit is teaching Britain its true place in the world - Polidicks

https://www.ft.com/content/29468d52-e0e5-11e8-8e70-5e22a430c1ad?kbc=undefined&fbclid=IwAR33KKp9yPSxUpFJ-83a4hY4o5kN1Q1ZV2YjZc5ARXXTJYlyAC75Z2CcVG8 In one sense, Boris Johnson is right. The Brexit process has indeed felt like a national humiliation. How many Brits have felt our innards shrivel at key moments of the negotiations? (...) I am talking about the parts of this process that have gone as predicted. The philosophy of Brexit was that, freed of EU constraints, the UK would take its rightful place in the world. This is indeed what is happening, but alas that place is not as the great power of their imagination. For proof, look at the negotiations over the Irish border. One need not get into the rights and wrongs to see that the UK has essentially been pushed around by Ireland, because the EU has thrown its weight behind the demands of its continuing member. The hard fact is that the power imbalance has meant the UK is being forced to choose between the chaos of a no-deal Brexit or undermining the constitutional integrity of one of its four sovereign parts and signing up to a significant amount of rule-taking. This is what happens when a single country that is not America or China negotiates with a global trading bloc. Few who saw the TV programme on America’s London embassy will forget the smirks as an US official described the British Brexit delusions: “They sort of see it as a negotiation between two equal parties.” One should not overstate this. Britain is not Latvia. It still carries heft. It is a top 10 global economy (...). It remains a military power, with a nuclear deterrent and a seat on the UN Security Council. It is the only European nation with access to US intelligence through the “five eyes” programme. Its pre-eminence as a financial centre will not immediately be dissipated by Brexit. The UK will still get its call, but after France and Germany and just before Canada. Life in the top 10 is different to life in the top three. And how will the UK’s status be reflected in its new trade deals? One has only to look at Donald Trump’s treatment of Canada to see that his negotiators will offer no special favours to the UK. Mr Trump is pro-Brexit because he wants to see a weakened EU, not to play benefactor to the UK. EU nations will be similarly cut-throat. Nor will sentimental attachments affect Commonwealth nations. Too many Brits fail to grasp that former colonies do not look back to the empire with unalloyed affection. While this has all been understood by serious figures in government, too much of Britain’s politics, culture and its self-image have been driven by its colonial past and the national myths built up around the last war. It is why the Brexiters cling so desperately to the theory that Theresa May has betrayed Brexit. The alternative is to accept that it is their own reckless chauvinism that has reduced the UK to the role of supplicant with its former partners.

Savage.

This is basically what everyone in the EU was hoping would happen if Britain voted leave. They're finally learning they're not the center of the universe.

our entire country is the star talent of a casting couch porno

b-b-b-but m-m-m-muh emp-p-p-pire?

Can't expect much from something listed as an opinion piece. The rest of the world can't rely on either the US, China nor Europe, so all we've got is the UK stepping back into the scene.

Its partially the EU's fault for capitulating to Britain for so long too. Britain was an important vital member of the EU on its inception but they've been whining about it practically since they joined the common market. They've always approached the EU as if it were something outside of Britain instead of something they're within.

The UK was never truly 'in' Europe, historically and even now still has a foot out of the door, it never fully went in on the EU, never adopted its currency among other things.

Oh my god did you actually unironically envision Brexit as the return of the British Empire? Why on earth would you ever think that the rest of the world would rely on one of histories greatest monsters, especially considering how many of them still remember what it was like to be ruled by them and the fact that the people pushing for this apparently feel proud of that history?

Stepping out of Europe is basically moving back into the world scene.

How was the UK never truly in Europe? What about the last 50 years has indicated britain is seperate from europe? Since WW2 and the 50s with its rapid decolonialization, the UK has only moved closer to europe and further integrated its economy into Europe. The only place they have remained seperate is in the pound, which at the time of the adoption of the single currency made sense to keep as it was stronger than the fledgling euro.

Just as we all rely on the US, even with its history of wars and drone strikes. Sorry, but we're all going to end up lining up for trade deals even with the UK's past.

I genuinely wonder if you know the earth is round.

If the EU had a combined foreign policy objective, then there would be an issue, but it doesn't and member states are stuck between their own interests and towing the EU 'line'.

You are exactly the kind of delusional person that this article is talking about. To think that the UK's position is even a little comparable to the most powerful country on the entire planet is absurd, or to think that the history of the US (for all it's faults) is comparable to one of the most exploitative, genocidal forces in modern history.

The UK still holds power regardless, and while it has trade on offer with the promise of low or zero tariffs, it has a step up against most other countries. But if those commonwealth countries want to take a stand, they can go ahead, maybe the UK can consider cutting their aid if they are going to take that line.

The only people who still want Brexit are the delusional or the willfully malicious.

What do you even accept as evidence though? We've given you scientific sources saying Brexit is bad, and you go "no but maybe they will focus on trading with NZ" despite all the evidence to the contrary We have anecdotal examples of people currently in England who will be very negatively impacted by making border crossing more difficult We have common sense, which says that reducing your influence while increasing your risks and losses is a stupid idea I mean at some point we're going to go through literally every metaphysical manifestation of the concept of data as a whole and you'll still ignore it and go "Yeah but the UK can offset not being a member of one of the largest trading blocs by trading with NZ on the other side of the world"

what power you keep saying stuff but you don't back it up what power

what do you think britain will have to offer to anyone after brexit

He seems to think that the UK still holds the same amount of sway it did when it was still God Save the Queen the sun never sets on the UK and all that shit, when it doesn't.

And I've said that while I admit there will be some economic issues, they are no where as bad as some on here have made them out to be, and the NZ trade thing, if you followed the news, US, Aus and NZ are at the top of the list. Which can be fixed by attempting to reduce as much red tape as possible. Totally. It can offset not being a member by still taking up trade with the EU, and then the rest of the world.

Another instance of Pride getting in the way of shit, just fucking back down and stop making us look like idiots.

Please tell me just how reliant Canada is on UK aid. Also reminder that Canada just signed a free trade agreement with the EU. And will have to negotiate a new one with a Brexited-out-the-window UK.

There has been a dramatic shift in soft power so yes.

There is no point debating with facts and common sense against someone who doesn't give a shit about reality and rather believes in his own delusions.

I was referring to the top of the commonwealth charts lad. To which it probably will negotiate a new one with the UK.

There’s a snag in your ideas @Boilrig and that is that it would require some very competent politicians & negotiators, something the current government is completely bereft of.

perception and reality are two separate things though, britain in its actions has been nothing but an essential part of western europe, sure they can spin it like they're the US but slightly closer, the reality of it is that the politicians realized decades ago they weren't that, and now you see a generation of politicians raised to think otherwise who actually believe that britain is separate and apart from the EU but brexit has shown that not to be true.

What will the UK have to offer to anyone after brexit?