An interesting dilemma will be arising in the next year or so, and it will be interesting to see if the consciences of the Leave voters will be pricked at all by what is bound to come.
Accepting that the EU is an over-bureaucratic behemoth, ripe for a bit of rational slimming and trimming, the one thing it did offer was a very hefty bargaining tool. As a trading force, both inwards and outwards, it has substantial leverage on those countries outside the EU that have less than gleaming Human Rights records.
Yes, there is Canada, wonderfully polite. The USA, proclaimer of democracy but with some very interesting addenda to their approach to equality – but hey, they speak English! Australia are more or less there, with a few historical wrinkles to iron out; New Zealand keep beating us at rugby, but O.K.
And then things start to get tricky. There is a huge variety of the degree to which Human Rights are honoured, ignored or determinedly destroyed amongst a wide swathe of the other countries of the world; those that the Brexitiers were so keen for us to have access to, to establish those trade relations that will see the UK sail off into a gleaming sunset of prosperity.
So, what do we do? Do we say “We will only trade with you if you improve your Human Rights record”? Do we demand that “Whilst we trade with you, we expect you to change your regime”? Or do we just take any arrangement on offer as long as there is money in it.
Let’s not forget that we have a slightly murky history of dealing with deeply dubious regimes – Iraq anyone? Pick a Middle East country anyone? Pick many an African country over the years anyone? How is Eastern Europe standing up anyone?
This is not intended to be a tirade of “We are perfect examples of humanity and righteousness and the rest of you are beneath contempt”. Because we are not, by a long way, and getting longer. But, where countries can be persuaded to change, develop, improve their Human Rights performance, then that is surely a good thing.
So, where exactly will be the leverage a year or so down the road? If we retain membership of the trading umbrella of the EU, then we will be ruled by all those regulations and laws our exit was supposed to free us from. If we do not, then we are no longer a useful route into the EU, and therefore the leverage is gone.
Just because we used to be a global empire power, we are no longer. And the ex-colonies gratitude for our presence, and subsequent departure, and the wonderful legacy left behind, will count for nothing in that brave new world.
Without a conscience we may find enough trading partners to keep us going. With any sort of conscience we will be, as the Brexitiers said they wanted us to be, out on our own.
cherokoffdotcom 