Editorial | Is Britain broken?

Britain’s reputation as a stable democracy has been severely tarnished by recent political events, resulting in a virtual game of musical chairs at Number 10 Downing Street. A new prime minister is expected to be named in a week – the third in eight weeks.

The resignation of Prime Minister Liz Truss, after a mere 45 days in office, has earned her the dubious distinction of being the shortest-serving prime minister in British history. The collapse of her government was predictable following the dramatic departures of senior cabinet ministers, Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

Taking over from Boris Johnson, Truss announced a radical economic agenda of tax cuts and spending worth billions. The pound came under immense pressure. The proposed tax cuts presented in Kwarteng’s “mini budget” sent financial markets tumbling and exacerbated the economic challenges. But, above all, it dented faith in the ability of the Conservatives to manage one of the largest economies in the world.

Britain, once held up as a model of a functioning democracy, is now mockingly represented by various Internet memes which gleefully identify the country as the sick man of Europe. Elections are not constitutionally due until January 2025. However, buoyed by impressive poll numbers, the Opposition is calling for fresh elections.

CONSOLING IN PERVERSE WAY

For struggling democracies, it’s almost consoling, in a perverse way, to witness the chaos affecting the once-formidable empire as it lurches from one crisis to the next. From a distance, it sure seems as if Britain is entering a winter of discontent.

In its heyday, spanning two centuries, it was commonly held that the sun never sets on the British empire, as it extended from Canada to New Zealand, winding its way across all continents. At the height of the British Empire, it controlled a quarter of the world’s population.

So, what really happened to Britain? First off, discontent soared in the colonies and the rise of nationalism saw many countries, frustrated with imperial oversight, demanding self-government. With Independence, Britain’s stronghold on the colonies waned. Thus, the Commonwealth of Nations was born out of the slow integration of the British empire.

Then came 2016 when Britain voted to leave the European Union (EU), its closest and largest trading partner. It was a contentious issue which created deep fissures between the so-called Remainers and Leavers. The estrangement of Britain from the EU bitterly divided the country and the ruling conservative party. The party came to power in 2010 with the promise to secure substantial and sustained economic growth.

It sadly failed to fulfil those promises and suffered a hit to its GDP. Its tenure will be remembered for the fact that there have been four prime ministers, seven chancellors, five home secretaries, and seven foreign secretaries. Add to that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change challenges, and war in Ukraine. It has been quite chaotic and has led to Britain losing its reputation for both political and financial stability.

SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP

Britain often talks about the special relationship with former colonies and, in the wake of Brexit, it announced that it would forge stronger trade partnerships with the Caribbean. An agreement with Jamaica and eight other Caribbean countries was designed to preserve existing preferential trade links.

Indeed, the Caribbean countries and former colonies expect that Britain will use the entire spectrum of its national levers to help the region grow economically and fight crime, as well as reduce climate-change risks.

Despite its challenges, Britain still has the third largest aid budget behind the United States and Germany. However, fixated on domestic woes, it could reduce this support and look inward as it seeks to address local challenges.

Double-digit inflation, a weakened pound, economic fallout from Brexit, energy crisis and war are all problems that a new prime minister will inherit in the glare of the world spotlight.