UK’s first day outside the EU marred by divisions
The UK is finally out of the European Union, thus fulfilling the referendum result of June 2016 when nearly 52 percent of those who voted opted for Brexit.
However, those commentators and analysts who were expecting the bitter divisions of the past 3.5 years to disappear on Brexit day were left disappointed as political polarization shows no sign of abating.
Sky News reported that Britain’s much-anticipated “Brexit party” proved to be a big disappointment as it resembled a “Punch and Judy show”, with the “toxic mood” persisting.
Reaction from Britain’s political establishment has been mixed, reflecting each leader’s desire to shape and motivate his or her core constituency in the decisive months and years ahead.
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, acknowledged the bitter divisions by tweeting that the country should now come together “to make the most” of Brexit’s “opportunities”.
Tonight we have left the EU - an extraordinary turning point in the life of this country. Let us come together now to make the most of all the opportunities Brexit will bring - and let’s unleash the potential of the whole UK. 🇬🇧
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) January 31, 2020
Opposition Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, tweeted a video arguing in favour of a “co-operative” post-Brexit relationship with the EU and counsels against a “sell out” trade deal with Donald Trump’s America.
The choice of which path we take for a post-Brexit Britain now lies before us. pic.twitter.com/XLw7n1aipw
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) January 31, 2020
Meanwhile, the candidate favoured to succeed Corbyn as Labour party leader, Rebecca Long-Bailey, promoted solidarity as the most effective means of fixing the country’s “broken political system”.
We must take on our broken political system. People and working class communities who voted Leave and Remain, from South London to South Yorkshire, have all been neglected and by distant, undemocratic political institutions and elites.
— Rebecca Long-Bailey (@RLong_Bailey) January 31, 2020
The leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon, promises a return to the "heart" of Europe once Scotland achieves independence from the UK.
Scotland will return to the heart of Europe as an independent country - #LeaveALightOnForScotland 🏴 pic.twitter.com/Pc2fibYnG4
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) January 31, 2020
And the President of the Irish Republican party Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald, tweeted that the only remedy to Brexit is an Irish Unity referendum which would resolve two pressing issues at once.
On the Louth/Armagh border this morning as the north is forced out of the EU against the wishes of the majority. @sinnfeinireland is clear - the route back is through a ref on unity. Planning must start now. Thanks @bcab4eu for meeting us, the fight goes on #GE2020 #time4unity pic.twitter.com/fTAHhGFvfO
— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) January 31, 2020
All in all, judging by the major political leaders’ reactions, Britain may have finally left the EU, but there is no denying that the hardest political battles lie ahead.
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