LONDON — The United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union, commonly referred to as “Brexit,” is not a religious issue, let alone a Catholic one.
That said, what do Britain’s Catholic politicians make of the 2016 referendum decision, which has now descended into what might be viewed as a constitutional crisis for the U.K.?
The subject of Brexit has divided the leaders and members of the two main political parties in the U.K. Many MPs and party members from both parties, Conservative and Labour, are firmly for “Remain,” while others in both parties are equally fixed in their desire to leave.
On the subject of Brexit, at least as evidenced in the actual vote in June 2016, the British electorate remains split more or less evenly.
Remainer Perspective
Simply put, many on the “Remain” side see Brexit as having an overall negative effect.
Charles Tannock, a Catholic and a British Conservative member of the European Parliament (MEP), summed up what many “Remainers” think when he told the Register, “Brexit means a poorer, more isolated U.K., with its peoples deprived of the freedom to live, work, study and retire anywhere across 30 countries, and [it] has caused a deeply divided country and political class.”
“It means potentially endless inconveniences, from non-recognition of U.K. driving licenses, pet passports to EHIC health travel cover,” he said. “It puts U.K. citizens at more risk from crime and terrorism, as the EU cooperation on both internal security and external security and defense is negatively impacted.”
Tannock added, “It means being a rule-taker for much of U.K.’s economy but no longer being in a position to influence matters in everything from medical licenses, to environmental, labor and financial regulation. … It means damage to U.K.’s NHS, as EU doctors and nurses stop coming as they lose their secure rights to practice in U.K.”
Fearing the unraveling of the current British constitutional arrangement, Tannock went on to add, “So far I have not identified one positive thing about Brexit. It could mean the potential breakup of the U.K., with an independent Scotland and a reunited Ireland.”
Tannock sees Brexit as “a selfish and destructive act by the U.K. against the EU.” There are still many recriminations on both sides about the claims that were made by both campaigns during the referendum debate.
Tannock said he feels that that debate preceding the referendum vote was an unhealthy one and sees no appetite for anything similar in any other EU nation.
He said, “Fortunately, no other EU 27 country is tempted to follow the U.K., having witnessed the disaster of Brexit and realized that so many lies and false promises were made by Brexiteers to deceive the U.K. electorate during the referendum campaign.”
