Actions Have Consequences
By Yeside Linney | November 29, 2020
The UK is now counting down the days to the biggest fall out in the nation’s history. Not only are we leaving the European Union, but the threat of leaving without a deal is imminent. A “no deal” Brexit does what it says on the tin. It means the UK and the EU are unable to reach an agreement and there will be a sharp end to the transition period—effectively a fall out! Even if a limited deal is reached it will still isolate the UK from the rest of Europe. Yes, there is a valid question as to whether the sheer breadth and depth of the economic crisis caused by the pandemic suggests that the impact of Brexit will be largely irrelevant.
Yeside Liney, “Brexit Despair,” mixed media on canvas, 60 x 60 cm 2019
Why am I concerned?
It’s not just the concern about the UK having to revert to World Trade Organisation rules on trade and consumers facing increased costs of imported goods, with the country suffering the reduced competitiveness of exports to the EU as a result of tariffs and trade barriers.
It’s not just the concern that Britain loses out on some vital EU subsidies such as those from the European Regional Development Fund.
It’s not just the concern regarding the reneging on agreements for avoiding a hard border with Northern Ireland. I could go on.
So what is my concern?
It’s the arrogant lack of willingness to negotiate a future relationship that invites regional co-operation which is the prevalent political pattern developing globally.
Why am I concerned?
It’s the lack of foresight in considering the younger generation and those to come.
A personal note of June 2016 sums up my concern and will remain engraved in my memory. It was an afternoon spent with family and friends, celebrating our son’s epic four year achievement to complete a self-styled Olympic Challenge: to compete or take part in all the forty-one disciplines that would qualify for the Olympics in Rio 2016. A day that should have been a celebration of this exceptional feat turned out to be the voicing of young people’s shock and despair about an older generation disenfranchising their future. They believed that if the Brexit vote had been decided by young people, the UK would likely have stayed in the EU. Although it’s true there are no official age break downs of how people voted in the referendum, polls suggest that 72-75% of under 25s backed Remain.
Most young British people have grown up taking for granted the freedom of movement that allowed them to study and work anywhere in the EU without bureaucratic hurdles. In essence the young feel cheated by Brexit.
“Brexit Despair” is my delayed, artistic response to my concern regarding the actions taken.
Copyright © 2020 Yeside Linney
Although Nigerian born, Yeside Linney has spent over 65 years living in the UK and is now retired from having been a High School teacher of English. She is a self-taught artist and regards herself as an eclectic Art pilgrim whose five year, and ongoing journey, is a process of self-discovery, using principally acrylics, oil pastels and inks. She is predominantly a landscape painter, though also attracted to other forms of expression, often abstracted. Landscapes are full of shape, texture and energy so she feels it’s important to capture these elements in her work. Each creation, sometimes influenced by poetry, aims to evoke a sense of place, whilst allowing room for personal interpretation. Yeside exhibits locally in Surrey where she lives.
The UK is in my thoughts. I hope you can somehow get out of this terrible deal.
A picture says a thousand words, this is so relevant when news on Brexit negotiations and the environment have been eclipsed by coronavirus.
The UK will survive. Hopefully, we will avoid falling into a xenophobic, “Little Britain” mentality.