Finance: Research, Policy and Anecdotes

Theresa May just called snap general elections for 8 June.   The optimist in me thinks that the upcoming election campaign will finally allow the country to have a real debate on Brexit.  While voters had only a yes/no choice last June on UK’s EU membership, there was no choice and no debate on what the future relationship of the UK with Europe should look like after Brexit.   So, now might be a good moment to move beyond fake facts (remember 350m for Brussels every week, to be rededicated to the NHS?) and fake arguments (millions of Syrian refugees about to cross the channel) and empty though powerful slogans (take back control) to a real debate on the benefits and costs of different cooperation forms between the UK and the EU post-2019.

The pessimist in me thinks that the election will be all about personalities.  Two female party leaders, widely popular in their respective countries, England/Wales and Scotland, and two male party leaders, one that most voters do not know and one that most voter rather not know. As it stands right now, this will be a confidence vote on Theresa May and on a full and unconditional mandate for her to negotiate whatever she thinks to be best for the UK. 

Overview