THIS IS
London
CALLING A Day to Remember in a Year of Change
T
he last day of January 2020 will long be remembered as the day when the United Kingdom finally left the European Union. For 47 years, the UK has been of two minds about membership in the dynamically changing EU. It was happy to share in the economic benefits with the other sovereign nations of Europe—that’s why it joined. But it never wanted to surrender its sovereignty to a political organization on its way to becoming a pan-European, federal superstate effectively under German control. So, what is next for the UK? What does the future hold? And what can we learn when we place these events in a biblical, prophetic context? Prime Minister Boris Johnson hopes his nation is entering an exciting time of national renewal. But will this historic date be seen as a launchpad to greater prosperity—writing another chapter in the ongoing success story of these Isles? Or might 31 January 2020 one day be recognized as the turning point when decline and marginalization set in and the UK’s fortunes went into reverse—the story of a nation set free only to be buffeted alone on the stormy seas of international events that worked powerfully against its interests? Great Expectations… The big Brexit gamble was that by breaking free from the EU, the UK would regain its sovereignty and control over its own destiny, with political power returned to a revivified Mother of Parliaments in London. It could regain control over immigration at its borders. Economic output would continue unabated. The UK could make trade deals with any nation, with every prospect of be-
16 Tomorrow’s World | May-June 2020
coming a turbocharged, economic hub of world trade— unhampered by the EU’s lumbering bureaucratic strictures. Fishing in UK coastal waters would once again be under national control. London would remain the preeminent international financial center serving Europe and the world. What could possibly go wrong? Europe is expected to fight “tooth and claw” for every advantage during the challenging year of negotiations that began after Brexit to secure a new trade deal between the two entities. For its part, the United Kingdom has made it clear that if no agreement is forthcoming by 31 December 2020, it will walk away and instead abide by World Trade Organization rules— which may not be in the best interests of either party. But with the formidable skills of a determined Prime Minister and his negotiating team, backed up by a solid parliamentary majority, many observers perceive that the UK has a strong negotiating hand. During this transitional period, the UK will remain part of the EU Customs Union and under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. It will still make payments into the EU budget, though it will no longer have a voice in the development of EU policy. Gibraltar will once again come under the spotlight, and France will demand continuing access to UK fishing grounds. In the world of finance, London may need to brace for an economic assault as the EU will likely attempt to move large slices of European trading from London to Frankfurt. …And Extreme Challenges But neither Britain nor the EU could have imagined that world conditions would so rapidly deteriorate. Sud-
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