The Indian Professional Forum is to be congratulated for arranging a high level Seminar on ‘Post-Brexit UK and India: Perspective for Business and Innovation' at Chatham House last week. The keynote Speaker was John McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor of Exchequer. Since the Referendum result, the process of Brexit seem to be shrouded in secrecy. Theresa May started with the slogan ‘Brexit is Brexit' without giving any clarity about what we were negotiating and its impact on British economy. John McDonnell was right to say that UK economy is still scrapping the bottom and that there was such an emergency in the Public Services that Chancellor should make new spending commitments.
Theresa May’s folly in calling the last General Election after denying that this was her intention is a clear indication that there is no clarity about what Brexit is all about and she was rightly routed by the electorates. It is no surprise that the price for support meant a bonanza for the Democratic Unionist in Northern Ireland in receiving billions of pounds in its budget. Money that could have been spent on our National Health and Care Services.
So what are the choices open to Britain. A hard Brexit that points to leaving EU including the single market.It is clear that even with a trade agreement,UK would find it difficult to trade without dire impact on our economy. A soft Brexit which points to leaving EU but being part of the Customs Union may mean that we could trade with certainty and solve the Irish border problem.The last option is to stay in EU if the exit deal do not meet UK’s expectations.That is where we started before the Referendum and option rejected by the Brexit lobby.
Serious negotiations are shortly to begin. Cherry picking is not an option open to UK. The remaining EU countries are least likely to agree to Theresa May’s demands. It is also unlikely to receive a positive response from countries like India and China whose main interest lies in building links with a market of 350 million EU citizens. India has been the source of frequent visits by British politicians.There should be a clear message for the visitors. Stop discriminating against Indian students. Stop using them as immigration statistics and ensure that rights of EU citizens living here are protected.
It is no secret that UK has a love/hate relationship with EU. This dates back from the days of Prime Minister John Major and has followed through to David Cameron who forgot that first rule is to govern and not rely on referenda to sort out your problems. There is still time to soften the impact of Brexit. It means UK citizens maintain the right to live, work and study in Europe. Guranteed right to visa free travel and maintain EU employment protections laws.
The Chatham House seminar was right to identify the scale of problems faced by UK. Let us hope that John McDonnell’s proposed visit to India will be an eye-opener about the issues that needs to be resolved.
