On November 13, British Prime Minister Theresa May and her Brexit negotiating team reached agreement with the European Union (EU) negotiators on a draft withdrawal treaty. The next day, after a very difficult five-hour meeting, May secured the agreement of her cabinet. Following the cabinet meeting, she told reporters “The choice before us is clear: This deal, which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings back control of our money, laws and borders, ends free movement, protects jobs, security and our Union; or leave with no deal, or no Brexit at all.” She reportedly told her cabinet that the deal, while not perfect, was as good as the UK can get.
It was evident the deal was not good enough for some of her cabinet members, and resignations were likely. Still, the country was shocked today (November 15) by the resignation of May’s Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, her chief Brexit negotiator, who could not support the deal. Several other secretaries have resigned, and more may follow. A deep political crisis is developing for May, for the country, and also for the EU.
The deal may be the best the UK could have obtained at this point, considering that, as the Financial Times said today in an editorial, “The UK has a weak negotiating hand, and the May government has played it poorly.” The 585-page draft agreement had to address many issues. The most difficult has proved to be the Irish border. Recall that Northern Ireland is part of the UK and along with the rest of the UK will be exiting the EU next March, while the Republic of Ireland is an independent nation that will remain in the EU. A very important element in the Irish peace process has been the elimination of a visible border with checkpoints. Both the UK and the EU are committed to avoiding the restoration of such a border. In addition, the UK and particularly Northern Ireland are opposed to creating any border between Northern Ireland and England.
