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Brexit

Inflection Points Dec 14, 2019

Boris Johnson’s next act: Saving the UK

By Frederick Kempe

Prime Minister Johnson – who famously craves both public attention and a place in history – won the former and a shot at the latter through a British election victory this week that was the most convincing conservative victory since Margaret Thatcher in 1987. To save the United Kingdom itself, however, he must reverse course, or at least amend direction, on much of what he has said and done to win in the first place.
Europe & Eurasia European Union
Brexit

New Atlanticist Dec 13, 2019

Johnson triumphs in UK election: What’s next?

By David A. Wemer

“Much of the electorate seems to have bought the Johnson message that electing a Conservative government will mark the end of the Brexit process,” Sir Peter Westmacott said. “In fact, it only signals the beginning of the real negotiations on Britain’s future relationship with the EU and the rest of the world.”
Elections European Union
Brexit

Long Take Sep 22, 2019

After Brexit, will Scotland take the high road out of the UK?

By Andrew R. Marshall

Just two years after Scots narrowly rejected independence by referendum, a second bite at the apple―IndyRef2―is being widely discussed, and one recent opinion pollshows it leading to a pro-independence result.

Elections European Union

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New Atlanticist

Oct 15, 2019

A final Brexit countdown?

By John M. Roberts

There’s a Brexit countdown in progress, but whether it’s counted in hours in order to end at midnight on October 16 or in days to end at midnight on Halloween is anybody’s guess.

European Union United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Sep 24, 2019

Court decision rebukes Johnson, but will it strengthen his hand?

By John M. Roberts

The Supreme Court succeeded in making a unanimous ruling correct in law and seemingly devoid of political influence, but it could only strengthen the prime minister’s support among Brexit voters.

European Union United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Sep 4, 2019

Westminster tries to rein Johnson in and avoid no-deal

By David A. Wemer

Arguing that the bill would mean he would lose all leverage with Brussels over a new withdrawal agreement, Johnson said “there is only one way forward for the country…there must now be an election.”

Elections European Union

New Atlanticist

Aug 30, 2019

Boris Johnson: 1066 and all that

By John M. Roberts

Johnson—’minister for the Union’, as he has styled himself—now only represents one element of the United Kingdom, albeit the largest. When he addresses the House of Commons on Hastings’ Day, he will truly ‘Speak for England,’ and England alone.

European Union United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Aug 28, 2019

Will suspending parliament strengthen Boris Johnson’s Brexit hand?

By David A. Wemer

Johnson’s decision to call for a suspension—also known as prorogation—drew fire from MPs across the political spectrum who view it as an attempt to sideline Parliament in the lead-up to the October 31 Brexit deadline.

European Union United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Aug 7, 2019

No-Deal Brexit comes further into focus

By Nick Brown

Johnson’s political honeymoon lasted a matter of days. Financial markets are swiftly repricing the greater odds of a messy exit.

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Jul 25, 2019

With Boris Johnson, will Britain get Brexit or a general election?

By John M. Roberts

New UK prime minister will be tested quickly

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Jul 23, 2019

Johnson takes the reins as Britain remains on uncertain Brexit course

By David A. Wemer

Johnson must quickly find a way forward along an increasingly uncertain Brexit road

United Kingdom
BRexit Sanctions

Program Impact Story

Jun 12, 2019

Britain’s sanction post-Brexit

By Atlantic Council

On June 12, the Global Business and Economics Program’s Economic Sanctions Initiative hosted a private roundtable on the implications of Brexit for the United Kingdom’s sanctions policy, featuring Qudsi Rasheed, sanctions envoy for the UK government. He explained in detail the UK’s new institutional set-up for sanctions policy. Mr. Rasheed also discussed UK-US-EU cooperation on […]

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

May 24, 2019

Theresa May resigns over Brexit chaos

By David A. Wemer

Having taken office less than one month after the UK voted to leave the EU, May will now leave almost three years later with that very exit still up in the air.

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

May 17, 2019

A political death warrant for Theresa May – and Brexit?

By John M. Roberts

After weeks of stagnation and accusations that Britain had a zombie government and parliament, suddenly everything is moving again at almost lightning speed. 

European Union United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Apr 12, 2019

Brussels agreed to Brexit extension to avoid no deal, EU official says

By David A. Wemer

EU official signals that the EU would be open to a compromise that passed the Withdrawal Agreement but changed the political declaration.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Apr 11, 2019

A little knowledge on Brexit

By John M. Roberts

We still do not know how, or when, or even whether, Britain will make its exit from the EU.

European Union United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Apr 5, 2019

The spark that launched Brexit has returned and could torpedo compromise

By Barbara C. Matthews

Serious efforts by EU regulators to extend their standards extraterritorially into London could easily provide pro-Brexit policy makers in London one more reason to resist compromise.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Apr 4, 2019

Brexit breaks Britain’s parties

By John M. Roberts

Curiously, while it is not possible to calculate just what will be the immediate outcome of the current Brexit imbroglio, it is already possible to gauge some of the longer-term consequences.

European Union United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Apr 2, 2019

Theresa May’s poisoned chalice

By John M. Roberts

The prime minister’s appeal to Jeremy Corbyn constituted a last-ditch attempt to try to wrest at least a degree of control of the Brexit process back into her own hands.

United Kingdom

Bremain vs. Brexit

Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 24, 2016

The United Kingdom’s Long Kiss Goodbye

Here’s what Atlantic Council analysts and guests had to say about the British referendum on June 23 to leave the European Union. In the Week After the Vote: “British support for taking the United Kingdom out of the European Union came as a tremendous shock to the world. Global financial markets were roiled for two […]

European Union International Organizations

Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 24, 2016

Brexit: An ‘Earthquake’ in London

By Ashish Kumar Sen

A vote by the British to leave the European Union should not be viewed as an isolated incident. It should, instead, set off alarm bells about the future of the European project. British Prime Minister David Cameron’s campaign to keep the United Kingdom in the EU was defeated by 52 percent to 48 percent despite […]

European Union International Organizations

Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 24, 2016

In Post-Brexit Era, a New Vision for the EU is Necessary

By Fran Burwell

Boarding the Eurostar from Brussels to London on June 24, the British passengers still went through the “EU Members” line at passport control, while we Americans went through “All Other Passports”—for how much longer? Possibly, for quite some time, if some British leaders—including top campaigners to Leave—have their way. At the core of the issue […]

European Union International Organizations

Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 24, 2016

EU’s Salvation a Priority

By Anders Åslund

David Cameron will go down as one of the most foolish prime ministers in British history. By placating populist sentiment and agreeing to hold a referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership in the European Union to manage tensions in his own Conservative Party, he has taken his country out of relevant international politics, forced himself […]

Europe & Eurasia European Union
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Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 24, 2016

Post-Brexit, Germany ‘Has to be Very Careful’

By Ashish Kumar Sen

We asked our experts to tell us what the European Union needs to do differently in light of the referendum. This is what they had to say: Richard L. Morningstar is the founding director and chairman of the Global Energy Center at the Atlantic Council and a former US ambassador to the EU.  The EU […]

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