Secession is brewing in Britain
from EU they’ll vote to be quittin’
More than half to secede,
a reliable read.
No wall, yet the handwriting written.
The headlines go from bad to worse for the UK and EU establishment as yet another new poll this weekend, by Opini
um, shows “Brexit” leading by a remarkable 19 points (52% chose to leave the EU against 33% choosing to keep the status quo). This result comes after 2 polls Friday night showing a 10-point lead for “leave” which sparked anxiety across markets. This surge in “leave” probability comes despite an additional 1.5 million voters having registered this week (which many expected to increase “remain” support). Further anger towards EU was exposed when former cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith warned that seven new prisons will need to be built in the UK by 2030 to cope with the rising number of migrant criminals (presumedly due to ‘staying’ in the EU). With market anxiety rising, as One River’s CIO notes, if Brexit happens, gold will soar.
All major parties are campaigning for Britain to stay in the EU. Here is the Green Party reason: Caroline Lucas has called on Green voters to back remaining in the EU on June 23rd, declaring the imminent vote a “climate referendum”.
Lucas, who is a board member of Britain Stronger in Europe and Another Europe is Possible, as well as the Green Party’s only MP, warned a vote for Brexit would undermine efforts to tackle climate change and build a greener economy.
“June 23rd is a climate referendum,” she said. “Leaving the EU could wreck our chances of playing a part in the fight against this existential threat – and hand the country to people who don’t even believe climate change is happening. But by staying as a member of the EU we can build on the progress already made in Paris earlier this year and continue making strides towards a fossil-free future.”
She reiterated her view the EU is in need of sweeping reform, but insisted it remained the “best hope we have when it comes to tackling climate change and protecting our environment”.
President Obama visited Britain recently and advocated strongly for Britain to stay in the EU, warning that if they left they would be at “the back of the queue” for a U.S. trade deal. According to polls taken just before and just after Obama’s visit, that recommendation alone lead to a 3 to 5 point uptick in favor of Brexit.
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 