Skip to main content

bravenewbritatin_bp_GettyImages1197725672 Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Brave New Britain?

Britain’s Conservative Party has fulfilled its campaign pledge to “get Brexit done.” But much remains undone – in particular, sorting out the United Kingdom’s future relationship with the European Union.

In this Big Picture, Chris Patten, a former Conservative Party chairman and former EU commissioner for external affairs, says Britain’s post-EU future is shrouded in “waffle, wishful thinking, and […] mendacity.” Columbia University’s Willem H. Buiter, meanwhile, says the UK should brace itself for years of painful negotiations and policy implementation in order to “make the best of a bad Brexit.” 

Similarly, Princeton University’s Harold James says that, in their enthusiasm to leave the EU, the Tories seem to have forgotten what their Conservative heroine, Margaret Thatcher, always understood: an economic tradeoff is inevitable. But Daniel Gros of the Centre for European Policy Studies is more upbeat, arguing that the UK could develop a productive “special relationship” with the EU like the one it has with the United States.

Featured in this Big Picture

  1. Chris PattenChris Patten
  2. Willem H. BuiterWillem H. Buiter
  3. Harold JamesHarold James
  4. Daniel GrosDaniel Gros

To continue reading, register now. It’s free!

Register Now

https://prosyn.org/YQOLn3G;

Edit Newsletter Preferences

Set up Notification

To receive email updates regarding this {entity_type}, please enter your email below.

If you are not already registered, this will create a PS account for you. You should receive an activation email shortly.