Brexit Metaphor No 99.
There is a principle in architecture: "never build one step; build zero or three." If you face a small difference in levels, smooth it out without a step. Or if the difference is big, use at least three steps. If you built just one step, people would not notice it and would stumble and fall all the time.
Britain's Brexit process seems to be the implementation of this architectural principle; we just don't know yet if it will be implemented correctly. Britain's relationship with the EU before 2016 was characterised by a marked difference in the level of commitment to the European project but both sides "agreed to disagree" and managed to smooth out their differences without building steps. The 2016 referendum, however, advised the British Government to build steps between the UK and the EU. The referendum never specified how many steps would need to be built; it just spat out an (advisory) instruction: "Leave! Build steps!"
The Luxembourg Prime-Minister Xavier Bettel laid out eloquently in 2018 the British penchant for sitting on the fence: “They were in with a load of opt-outs. Now they are out and want a load of opt-ins.” Theresa May is trying to "leave" by buiding two steps between Britain and the EU (OUT of the EU institutions and OUT of the Single Market), while Jeremy Corbyn is (unrealistically) calling for only one step (OUT of the EU institutions but remaining in a customs union with the EU). It will be interesting to see how many steps Britain will end up with, given the historical annoyance of the EU with the 2.5 steps that Switzerland has ended up with (i.e. some access to the Single Market).
Ironically, in 5-10 years, a wheelchair ramp with no steps will most likely be installed between Britain and the EU to smooth over the bigger difference in levels. However, in the meantime prepare for some hopping up and down the steps of different regulatory regimes - just like hopscotch but for adults.
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| Two steps, in violation of the architecture principle (Killarney, Ireland, Jan 2019) |
Notes:
1. Timeline: This article is part of a series of original #BrexitMetaphors published daily. A total of 99 have been posted so far and another 62 Brexit Metaphors will be published every day until the planned Brexit date of March 29, 2019.
2. Disclosure: The author has a master's degree in European Integration. He also thinks he knows a bit about business, economics, entrepreneurship, China, history, geography, nature, science and Rubik Cubes.
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