British Economist: Brexit Tearing UK Apart

TEHRAN (FNA)- Rodney Shakespeare, British professor of economy, says post-Brexit crises have increased Northern Ireland and Scotland’s desire to become independent states.

 Speaking in an interview with FNA, Shakespeare said, “[Brexit] has increased Scottish desire to separate [from the UK] and, in particular, increased the chances that Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK) will join up with the independent state of Ireland.”

“Scotland certainly did not wish to separate from Europe and will continue to strive to return to Europe… Brexit means some sort of border between the UK and Europe but the Good Friday agreement opposes that. So, slowly, even stealthily, the unification of the island of Ireland is approaching”, he further added.

Rodney Shakespeare, a professor at the University of Cambridge and a qualified British lawyer, is particularly known for his conferences on money, the real economy, and social and economic justice. For ten years he was a Visiting Professor of Binary Economics at Trisakti University, Jakarta. He is also a co-founder of the Global Justice Movement.

Below is the full text of the interview:

Q: Labor shortage to deliver fuel to the gas stations is said to be a direct result of Brexit. How do you believe this problem could be addressed properly in Brexit negotiations? Has Brexit left any room to address such problems in the future?

A: The UK government does not intend to properly address this problem in Brexit negotiations. It has offered three-month visas for European lorry drivers to come to the UK but very few European drivers have taken up the offer. Why should they? There is plenty of work for them in Europe.

The Brexit theory is that UK residents will become lorry drivers but that forgets:

• the huge cost of obtaining the official drivers' licenses (up to £5,000);
• poor work conditions;
• relatively low pay.

The pay of lorry drivers is now rising but the government has been forced to bring in military drivers as a stop-gap solution.

There is a similar problem with nurses in hospitals and staff in care homes. The UK government will presumably be offering short-term visas but, again, that is unlikely to be effective.

Q: In addition to shortage of labor, there are shortages of certain foods evidenced by empty supermarket shelves. Are these really the issues Britons thought about when they voted for Brexit? In other words, would people be properly informed of their future?

A: The Brexit propagandists appealed to those who dream of the British Empire and think that the UK can, and should, boss everybody else around. Moreover, they think that the UK can regain sufficient power to do that. Quite incredibly, they think that the USA is able and willing to help the UK to do that.

However, they are forgetting that the UK is an island on the edge of Europe; that half its trade is with Europe; and that the USA (because it has relative power) will give no favours and will smash the UK in any trade negotiation.

Q: Do you believe Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales will again make an effort to separate from the UK, having faced the post-Brexit crises?

A: Scotland certainly did not wish to separate from Europe and will continue to strive to return to Europe and, at the same time, separate itself from the UK.

Brexit is essentially an English phenomena and it has increased Scottish desire to separate and, in particular, increased the chances that Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK) will join up with the independent state of Ireland.

NB. Brexit means some sort of border between the UK and Europe but the Good Friday agreement opposes that. So, slowly, even stealthily, the unification of the island of Ireland is approaching (and that is why the Ulster Unionists feel that they have been betrayed by Brexit).