Why did the British Prime Minister choose a 'hard Brexit' with the EU?

(Baonghean.vn) - The UK has chosen a "hard Brexit" scenario, meaning a definitive separation from the European Union (EU). What are the reasons for this decisive move? What does the UK gain and lose from this scenario?

Decided to "break up"

The British Prime Minister's choice of a "hard Brexit" scenario is not entirely unexpected, given her previous statements. However, this is considered the clearest and most official statement from the British government regarding its Brexit implementation strategy, amidst criticism and speculation about the possibility of Brexit descending into chaos.

According to the 12 points outlined by Mrs. May, the most notable is the UK's withdrawal from the single market, the customs union, and the European Court of Justice. As Theresa May stated, "Britain wants a new, fair partnership, not a partial membership or association with the EU." This means Britain will not seek a status similar to Norway or Switzerland, that is, a separate entity but with special cooperation with the EU.

The British Prime Minister's "tough" decision can be explained from two perspectives. Firstly, internally, following the Brexit referendum, the UK faced deep divisions among both officials and citizens. A significant portion continued to support remaining in the EU, with Scotland even declaring it would hold a referendum to separate from the UK and rejoin the EU.

British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks about the Brexit strategy on January 17. Photo: AFP

More worryingly, British politicians fear that the pro-Brexit camp will become psychologically disturbed and regret their decision in the referendum. In such a context, the British government has no choice but to decisively resolve the situation with a definitive declaration: Britain will leave and stand completely outside the EU as an independent and equal partner.

From a second perspective, there is pressure from outside, specifically from the EU. Recently, at important meetings of the bloc, leaders of key member states such as Germany, France, and Italy have consistently affirmed their stance of "not letting Britain leave easily, to avoid setting a bad precedent" for other members.

Even a small country with very close ties to the UK, like Denmark, has stated that "any concessions that do not benefit Denmark will not be accepted." EU countries have previously stipulated that if the UK wants continued access to the European single market with the same tax benefits as a normal member, it must accept the free movement of EU citizens, specifically, EU citizens must have free access to the UK.

Of course, this is something that Theresa May's government strongly opposes because "freedom of movement" has caused Britain too many headaches in controlling immigration and is also one of the reasons for today's Brexit result. Therefore, faced with pressure from the EU, Britain naturally did not want to drag on negotiations and binding conditions after the "divorce," so they had no choice but to "break ties."

What did Britain gain and what did it lose?

Without even considering its nature, the strategy recently unveiled by the British Prime Minister is seen by businesses and diplomats as a "guide" for planning their own strategies. With a "hard Brexit," Britain could potentially have complete control over the flow of immigration into the country in the future, including immigrants from other European countries.

In terms of trade, Britain will be "free" to seek an agreement it desires with the European Union, not the other way around. This means they will have autonomy in all matters after six decades of being "bound" within a single bloc. This separation could bring London new friends and partners who are more suited to the country's development and stability.

However, the "losses" of a hard Brexit are also significant. Economically, leaving the European Single Market will cause tangible damage to the UK. 44% of the UK's exports go to the EU, and if they are blocked by tariffs, the economic damage to the UK will be extremely serious.

Scottish First Minister, Theresa Sturgeon, has warned she will trigger a referendum on independence following the government's hard Brexit decision. (Photo: Express)

Prime Minister May once stated she would “undercut taxes” to attract businesses and investors if Britain failed to negotiate a favorable deal with the EU. This could lead to a “punitive deal” from the EU against Britain.

Furthermore, the UK's decision to leave the EU customs union will force it to renegotiate not only dozens of previous agreements but also to strengthen border controls on the flow of people and goods via international air, rail, and seaport routes.

Even more worrying is that a "hard Brexit" would not only fail to heal the divisions within the UK but also risk deepening the conflict. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon frankly pointed out that the UK government's plan to leave the EU would be a tragedy for the British economy. Therefore, Scotland must have the right to vote independently.

It appears that the unity of the United Kingdom is under threat if Scotland wants to hold another referendum demanding territorial independence. This will pose significant challenges for the British Prime Minister's government in the coming period.

The UK's definitive, non-binding "farewell" will be the second "cold shower" for the EU after the UK referendum in June 2016. Therefore, future negotiations between the UK and the EU are expected to be fraught with difficulties, possibly even reaching a deadlock with no way out. The longer this situation drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be for Theresa May's government.

Thanh Huyen