THE UNITED KINGDOM'S FOREIGN POLICY POST-BREXIT AND BEYOND

On 23 June 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom (UK) or Great Britain exercised their democratic rights to vote in a national referendum, also known as “The Brexit Referendum.”

- PAUL CHIUDZA BANDA

Introduction and brief background

On 23 June 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom (UK) or Great Britain exercised their democratic rights to vote in a national referendum, also known as “The Brexit Referendum.” The main question posed to voters was as follows: “whether to remain as part of the European Union (EU) or to exit from the EU.” In tallying the total votes cast, the results indicated that 51.9 percent of the voters supported the UK’s departure from the EU. That then marked the process for the end of the UK’s participation in and membership of the EU, having done so since 1973. The then Conservative UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, who vehemently campaigned against Brexit resigned from office. He had promised to do so if the vote did not go in his way. In March 2017, Cameron’s successor, also Conservative, Theresa May, initiated the process toward Britain’s complete withdrawal from the EU. A new government ministerial position, responsible for Brexit was created to oversee the withdrawal process. When the British Parliament rejected Prime Minister May’s Brexit deal, the writing was on the wall that she too had to resign from her position. She was replaced by the current Prime Minister, Boris Johnson in July 2019. Apparently, Johnson was one of the lead campaigners in favor of the Brexit referendum vote. This article briefly discusses why the Brexit vote took place, the steps that have been taken so far, and what the future holds for Britain’s foreign policy, post-Brexit.

Why brexit and what has been done so far