Britain’s Brexit Blueprint: The Tightrope Walk That May’s Cabinet Just Attempted
After a chaotic week in Westminster that saw ministers filing their resignation papers with the speed of a runaway train, the Prime Minister has finally dropped a quiz‑book on the EU. On Thursday (July 12), “The Long‑Awaited Brexit Plan” will be unveiled, and folks in Brussels might get a polite reminder that Britain isn’t about to walk into the EU with a pizza‑slice of freedom intact.
What the Plan Really Says
- Leave the single market – No more free‑flow of people. Trade between UK and EU stops being a free‑for‑all.
- Keep EU rules on goods – Think of it like a safety net for complicated factories. UK will tax imports from outside the bloc but still abide by EU product rules. For services? That’s a different story.
- Babysit the customs union – The policy will try to legally keep the UK in a customs “family” with the EU even after the switch.
Dominic Raab, who tried keeping the government together for a moment before the cabinet “revolution” kicked in, welcomed the new approach. “It’s a principled, practical Brexit that respects the result of the referendum,” he said, but the sentiment never reached the quiet corners of European allies.
May’s Loyalists and the Protest Party
It’s been an emotional roller coaster. The people who once shouted “Leave!” are now storming doors of the office of Prime Minister Theresa May—David Davis and Boris Johnson, formerly her Brexit tax‑man and foreign minister, took deliberate exits last week. Pretty sure a few junior aides crossed the line too.
The fallout turns a calm political water into a storm. It’s not just a matter of morale; it’s a safety check on the government’s future. No wonder the leadership challenge has flared up again.
Brussels: “Pull Yourself Together”
In a calm but firm tone, EU officials told the UK that hopes of “seamless close ties” after the exit would be seen as unrealistic. Leaders such as Donald Tusk and Angela Merkel have already been briefed. The reaction? “Much better, but we need detail.”
Timeline: September Sprints
Both sides want a deal by October—big because Parliament will need a ton of paperwork to accept it, and a little because of the risk: Britain hanging out the door of EU without a contract leads to huge economic turbulence on either side of the Channel.
The “Status‑of‑Colony” Debate
Boris Johnson, after the rumors of a “semi‑Brexit,” turned it into a sharp retort: “Follow the EU’s rules without the freedom to change them? We’ll look like a colony.” Jacob Rees‑Mogg and a chorus of traditional conservative Eurosceptics are hungry for a clean break. They are already drafting amendments—two of three they’re likely to shoot to the House of Commons in the next week. The first wants us to toss our customs union; the second would have EU handling British trade tariffs on goods coming from outside the block—something Brussels can’t stomach.
Rees‑Mogg’s “Stenography” Plan
Rees‑Mogg’s tweet: “My goal is just to stick to the government’s earlier promises.” The reality is that stiffening the UK’s hand might end up crushing the new plan and putting May in a tighter lock.
What It Means for the Rest of Us
We’re on the brink of a new chapter, but it’s like awaiting the final scene of a long‑running drama. Will it be a triumphant exit, a painful stumble, or a standoff that turns the EU into a backyard tug‑of‑war?
As for now, the government’s plan is a marathon, not a sprint—100‑mile walk that might leave a few bruises and a sense of awe about the sheer distance one has to cover.
