British people’s historic referendum by a marginal majority of 52 by 48 percent vote to leave European Union on Thursday not only highlighted the fracture within but also shocked the world by total surprise. As it appears the decision has opened the Pandora’s box of multiple shocks having the potentials of destabilizing the unity and territorial integrity of the United Kingdom (UK) as a nation while its socio-political fallout has terribly hit the global economy and financial system overnight.
British Prime Minister David Cameron, who whole-heartedly believed that Britain would be better off and campaigned to remain with the EU has already announced his resignation calling for new leadership for taking the country to next destination. His Cabinet is divided in opposing groups and the entire British political establishments at cross party level are now rippled into ‘leave’ and ‘remain’ camps highlighting the chaos.
Most younger people want to continue with EU while the anti-immigrants elderly conservatives mainly from British Midland voted to leave. A young Labour MP was slain because of her campaign to remain with the 28-nation block.
The rush of the events for a momentous decision to come out from European Union after 43 years causing worldwide economic turmoil is shocking. But what is noticeable is that the decision so intensely contested but decided by just a four-percentage point difference suggests that denial of opinion of over 16 million voters who opted to remain in the EU can’t also be overlooked. That is why the margin for a decision of such importance should have been on a much larger scale.
What is agitating on everybody’s mind here is that Bangladeshi people love Britain and the EU on equal footing and any separation appears painful to us. What is good for UK is to be accepted. But we are not sure. Because we believe that the age of becoming great alone is gone. Now is the age of common good to be achieved through unity and union.
It is true that although Britain was in European Union for a long period but the relationship was not based on total commitment. It was a love-hate relationship.
What appears highly disturbing is the fact that Britain has already become victim of its own divisive politics on EU membership issue. Leaders of the leave camp wanted to withdraw Britain from European Union, which allowed free movement of labour and merchandise and sheltering immigrants on humanitarian grounds. The Brexit supporters also exploited free immigration within the Union. Anti-immigration sentiment was exploited. Then they misled the people by telling lies.
The leave vote has defeated the European unity for larger trade and greater welfare. But now Britain itself will face the crisis of disunity. Scottish leaders are determined to remain in European Union, and going to insist on a second referendum for severance from UK. They made the point saying if the simple majority vote can decide the fate of UK away from the EU, why 62.2 percent vote of Scottish people to remain with EU should not be treated as valid.
People of Northern Ireland also overwhelmingly voted to remain in EU and they want to continue with the block. In fact it may open the old crisis of British rule in the part of the island to force new British government to face new trouble.
Meanwhile, thousands of Londoners have signed a petition to the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to hold a referendum in London districts so that they can remain in the European Union. They want London to be declared independent.
The young ones all over UK have overwhelmingly voted to remain. They are disgruntled that the old people have robbed off their better future in Europe.
What must be remembered is that the European Union is just emerging and reforms are necessary for the survival of the Union. If Britain is in the Union then Britain will be a force of change in European Union. It has to be more democratic and more adjustable to nationalistic sentiments. It will be too much to expect the Union to be the United States of Europe.
But the old concept of colonial greatness or inclusive sovereignty is not to be repeated. No country is full sovereign in this age of global economy and security.
On the other hand the leaders of the European Union want UK to leave the Union as speedily as possible.
We are surprised how lightly such a serious crisis was taken by the British leaders.
