Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 UP FRONT
Saturday 1 February 2020
Britain leaves the European Union, leaps into the unknown

Continued from Front

While Britain's exit is a his-
toric moment, it only marks
the end of the first stage of
the Brexit saga. When Brit-
ons wake up on Saturday,
they will notice very little
change. The U.K. and the
EU have given themselves
an 11-month "transition pe-
riod" — in which the U.K.
will continue to follow the
bloc's rules — to strike new
agreements on trade, se-
curity and a host of other
areas.
The now 27-member EU will
have to bounce back from
one of its biggest setbacks
in its 62-year history to con-
front an ever more compli-
cated world as its former
member becomes a com- Brexit supporters gather during a rally in London, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020.
petitor, just across the Eng- Associated Press
lish Channel. friendly cooperation be- waited for the moment has a wing of fierce "eu- referendum on independ-
French President Em- tween the EU and an ener- that even Farage some- roskeptics" — opponents ence from the U.K., some-
manuel Macron called getic Britain," Johnson said times doubted would ever of EU membership. Former thing Johnson refuses to
Brexit a "historic alarm sig- in a pre-recorded address come. Prime Minister David Cam- grant.
nal" that should force the to the country broadcast "This is the single most im- eron eventually agreed to London, which is home to
EU to improve itself. an hour before Britain's exit. portant moment in the hold a referendum, saying more than 1 million EU citi-
"It's a sad day, let's not hide In a break with usual prac- modern history of our great he wanted to settle the is- zens, also voted by a wide
it," he said in a televised tice, independent media nation," Farage told the sue once and for all. margin to stay in the bloc.
address. "But it is a day that outlets were not allowed crowd. It hasn't worked out that Mayor Sadiq Khan said he
must also lead us to do to film Johnson's speech, "The war is over," said way. Since the 2016 vote, was "heartbroken" about
things differently." which the government Farage, who often de- the U.K. has held fractious Brexit. But he insisted Lon-
He insisted that European recorded Thursday at 10 scribes Britain's relation- negotiations with the EU don would remain that
citizens need a united Eu- Downing St. ship with Europe in martial that finally, late last year, welcomed all, regardless of
rope "more than ever," to Johnson won an election terms. "We have won." secured a deal on divorce "the color of your skin, the
defend their interests in victory in December with Londoner Donna Jones terms. But Britain is leaving color of your flag, the color
the face of China and the a dual promise to "get said she had come to "be the bloc arguably as divid- of your passport."
United States, to cope with Brexit done" and deliver part of history." ed as it was on referendum Negotiations between Brit-
climate change and mi- improved jobs, infrastruc- "It doesn't mean we're anti- day. ain and the EU on their new
gration and technological ture and services for Brit- Europe, it just means we By and large, Britain's big relationship are due to start
upheaval. In the many EU ain's most deprived areas, want to be self-sufficient in cities voted to stay in the in earnest in March, and
buildings of Brussels on Fri- where support for leaving a certain way," she said. EU, while small towns vot- the early signs are not en-
day, British flags were qui- the EU is strongest. On Fri- But Britons who cherished ed to leave. England and couraging. The EU says Brit-
etly lowered, folded and day, he symbolically held their membership in the Wales backed Brexit, while ain can't have full access
taken away. This is the first a Cabinet meeting in the bloc — and the freedom Northern Ireland and Scot- to the EU's single market
time a country has left the pro-Brexit town of Sunder- it bought to live anywhere land voted to remain. unless it follows the bloc's
EU, and many in the bloc land in northeast England, across of 28 countries — Candlelit vigils were held in rules, but Britain insists it will
rued the day. EU Commis- rather than in London. were mourning. several Scottish cities, gov- not agree to follow an EU
sion President Ursula von Johnson is a Brexit enthusi- "Many of us want to just ernment buildings in Edin- rule book in return for unfet-
der Leyen lamented that ast, but he knows many Brit- mark our sadness in public," burgh were lit up in the EU's tered trade.
"as the sun rises tomorrow, ons aren't, and his Conserv- said Ann Jones, who joined blue and yellow colors, and With Johnson adamant he
a new chapter for our un- ative government sought dozens of other remainers the bloc's flag continued to won't extend the transition
ion of 27 will start." to mark the moment with on a march to the EU's mis- fly outside the Scottish Par- period beyond Dec. 31,
But she warned Brexit day quiet dignity. Red, white sion in London. liament. months of uncertainty and
would mark a major loss for and blue lights illuminated "And we don't want trou- Scottish First Minister Nicola acrimony lie ahead.
the U.K. and said the island government buildings and ble, we just want to say, Sturgeon said Brexit was "a In the English port of Dover,
nation was heading for a a countdown clock pro- well you know, we didn't moment of profound sad- just 20 miles (32 kilometers)
lonelier existence. jected onto the prime min- want this." ness." across the Channel from
"Strength does not lie in ister's Downing Street resi- Britain's journey to Brexit has "And here in Scotland, France, retiree Philip Barry
splendid isolation, but in dence. been long, rocky — and far given that it is happening said he was confident it
our unique union," she said. There was no such re- from over. against the will of the vast would all be worth it.
Johnson insisted post-Brexit straint in nearby Parliament The U.K. was never a majority of us, that sadness "My expectation is that
Britain would be "simulta- Square, where arch-Brex- wholehearted EU member, will be tinged with anger," there may be a little bump
neously a great European iteer Nigel Farage gath- but actually leaving the she said in a speech in Ed- or two in the road but in
power and truly global in ered a crowd of several bloc was long considered inburgh. the end it will even out,"
our range and ambitions." thousand, who belted out a fringe idea. It gradually Sturgeon's Scottish National he said. "Somebody once
"We want this to be the the patriotic song "Land of gained strength within the Party government is de- said: short-term pain but
beginning of a new era of Hope and Glory" as they Conservative Party, which manding the right to hold a long-term gain."q