The UK on the Verge of Future Relations with the EU

Abstract

At the end of November the UK-EU talks were still in progress and in the absence of a deal the perspectives of short-term relations were labelled “provisional application” of interim agreements. The analysis of public opinion in times of COVID-19 pandemic reveals less attention to Brexit and a leaning to its soft alternative while believing exiting the EU to be wrong. The Johnson Cabinet was ready for no deal, having introduced the Internal Market Bill in breach of the UK-EU Agreement, but did not take measures for border control. This study shows that the reasons of the UK uncompromising attitude were dictated by economic as well as political and psychological factors. As to foreign policy the UK intends to underpin “Global Britain” with an expensive modernization of defence forces at the expense of international aid. The conclusion is that the UK is to remain the US major ally notwithstanding differences with the incoming administration.