Brexit: Will It Be a Redo or an Undo

Europe and the elites in Washington and New York are still reeling from the decision of voters in the United Kingdom to vote to “leave” the European Union (EU) by a margin of 52 to 48 percent.  Questions remain about whether the vote actually represents the will of the people, and even, whether the exit will actually happen.  One explanation frequently cited in the Main Stream Media (MSM) is that older voters (over 50) were uncomfortable with the changes in the U.K. due to immigration.  Also, these older voters were tired of bureaucrats in Brussels (the home of the European Union) imposing regulations on them.  Younger U.K. voters, however, are comfortable with the new European culture as they seek and find employment all over the EU.  A second less frequently cited explanation in the MSM is that the influx of immigrants to the U.K. was reducing incomes and the standard of living.  Specifically, this explanation holds that because immigrants increase the available labor supply, wages are reduced, and strains are places on social services such as the National Health Service.  Government sponsored studies, however, have found that an aging native U.K. population without immigrants will reduce the U.K.’s productivity and result in a net loss of income.  Moreover, much of the strain felt in social services is due to reduced spending by the Conservative government, supposedly to demonstrate to bond markets that the government is serious about holding down inflation.
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Following the election, many of the voters seem stunned by their collective decision while other voters turned to Google to find out what the EU was, and presumably why they voted to leave it.  Over four million voters signed a petition to have a “redo” vote, although government officials quickly announced that there would be no redo.  Nonetheless, Scottish officials were quick to point out that the previous referendum to remain in the U.K. passed only because the U.K. was a part of the EU.  They quickly proceeded to file for another referendum that would almost certainly result in Scotland leaving the U.K.  Further, one of the provisions of the peace agreement between Northern Ireland and the U.K. guaranteed unhindered passage between the two countries would be null and void once the U.K. leaves the EU.  Northern Ireland is therefore expected to leave the U.K. and join Ireland.  The loss of Northern Ireland and Scotland were unanticipated by the voters.  In light of these reactions, the declaration by the newly chosen U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May to Scotland’s First Minister that the U.K. would not withdraw from the EU until Scotland agrees to the withdrawal seems to be a way to undo the vote without a redo.