Is Britain about to leave the EU?

[innonimatu]

Might Brexit be good for the EU long term? It would send a pretty clear message to the EU countries that decidedly 'meh' toward European integration that they need to either "crap or get off the can". No more of the "I'll just not follow it if I don't like it" line that the UK has been trying to pull. I feel the EU would work better as a smaller organization -basically France, Benelux, Germany, and Italy- rather than an unwieldy bureaucratic mess trying to keep the UK and Eastern Europe happy who prefer a pick-and-choose approach to European integration.

The economic interests of Italy do not align with that "core EU": should it take part in it, it would play the role that Greece and Spain are playing (and Italy already, but to a smaller degree) in this larger one. As it is the italians are already too anti-EU. Plus they have many internal separatists brewing trouble: even the southern italians have been growing their own group lately, wanting to bring back the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies!!!

If a "core EU" is formed, it will be perceived as a move against the other countries. The dutch are already extremely euroskeptic and my guess is that they will choose a british alliance rather than a german-french one in that event. France itself has Mme. Le Pen looking looming as a threat to the remnants of the europhile parties... she is already the front runner for the 2017 election, a move before that election towards any kind of "federal Europe" will seat her in the Élysée.

The project has been bankrupt for years now, even since the Euro was exposed as a failure but rather than end it, the EU doubled down on "financial integration". It was just that until now no one important has pointed out that the king goes naked...

 

[HAND]

It's official... The U.K. Is out of the EU.

 

[Lillefix]

It's official... The U.K. Is out of the EU.

It would take quite a few years. But yes. Going out.

 

[innonimatu]

Still not official, but almost inevitable now. Time to open a bottle of Port, make a quiet toast to the courage of the citizens of the UK for being the first to stuff it to this disaster the EU became, and retire for the night.

 

[Arwon]

This is a good time to buy stuff online in pounds

 

[Bootstoots]

BBC has called it for Leave.

Finally, something interesting that was totally against the interests of global capitalism happened! Probably not a good move, but an interesting one. I'd like to congratulate the Brexiteers for conducting this experiment and will be looking forward to find out what happens next.

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

I can finally snag a couple Liverpool jerseys.

 

[ls612]

I'm shocked that the UK voted to leave with high turnout. This is an ill omen for the global economy.

 

[Camikaze]

I'm watching the BBC, and the SNP rep they're interviewing is strongly suggesting they'll be pushing for another independence referendum.

 

[Dachs]

I'm watching the BBC, and the SNP rep they're interviewing is strongly suggesting they'll be pushing for another independence referendum.

They'd have to be crazy not to. Sinn Féin reps have also said that they'll be pushing for a reunification referendum with NI.

 

[cav scout]

I'm watching the BBC, and the SNP rep they're interviewing is strongly suggesting they'll be pushing for another independence referendum.

They can push but it's doubtful they would gain any real traction (and they know it).

The SNP wants to hold all those seats they picked up and this kind of political theater makes for good domestic consumption.

If Scotland actually left the UK they wouldn't just automatically get to join the EU. Spain would most certainly block them.

 

[Arwon]

Why wouldn't it get any traction? The vote was close last time and a significant element of the no vote was fear over relationship with the EU.

 

[Tigranes]

I'm shocked that the UK voted to leave with high turnout. This is an ill omen for the global economy.

The pound has fallen to the levels not seen since 1985...

Very sad day for EU and multipolar world. United and strong Europe with UK could have helped to solve many problems our planet is facing with much higher degree of likelihood. With the key member separating itself from the rest -- everything good about EU became weaker...

When Scotland eventually wins their independence and joins EU -- this day will come to haunt southern England voters!

P.S. And remember never to trust exit polls!

 

[GoodSarmatian]

The great irony about the Brexit is that far more people will try to immigrate into the UK when Britain's right-wing government increases HNS and welfare spending by 350 million pounds a week.

 

[Dachs]

P.S. And remember never to trust exit poles!

"not trusting Poles" is why Brexit happened in the first place

 

[Mechanicalsalvation]

Looks like the British will need to held new and better referenda.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I hope they shut down the US stock market on Friday. I'm pretty sure the 250 point gain today will evaporate tomorrow. Suspending trading for a day will allow things to settle down a bit.

 

[kronic]

I'm shocked that the UK voted to leave with high turnout. This is an ill omen for the global economy.

It means that the times where high turnout meant a vote for the status quo are over. It's been a trend that you could see in several European elections on national or regional level (even here in Germany). And that tells you how dissatisfied people have become. Not only with the EU.

The great irony about the Brexit is that far more people will try to immigrate into the UK when Britain's right-wing government increases HNS and welfare spending by 350 million pounds a week.

Oh, are you implying that immigrants, refugees et al are migrating because of high welfare handouts in certain parts of the world? A bad German, you are. Merkel will disapprove of that message.

 

[Tigranes]

"not trusting Poles" is why Brexit happened in the first place

The European Union just lost a sixth of its economy, roughly akin to Florida and California seceding from the United States.

 

[Dachs]

The European Union just lost a sixth of its economy, roughly akin to Florida and California seceding from the United States.

...yes? I don't see how that has anything to do with me making a joke about British xenophobia toward Polish immigrants.