Why David Cameron's resignation must not be taken at face value (Updated)
The British Prime Minister resigned immediately after it was announced that the "Leave Campaign" had won the referendum on the status of the United Kingdom in the European Union.
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Many believe he resigned because of the personal embarrassment of being on the losing side. While this may be true, it is argued that personal embarrassment is a remote rather than the direct cause of his resignation. There may be more critical reasons why he resigned.
The real reason is that David Cameron's resignation affords him the opportunity to play the last political card left in his hand as far as the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union is concerned if they are to avoid catastrophic consequences of BREXIT.
By resigning and leaving the decision to activate Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to the next Prime Minister to take in October, 2016 he has cunningly bought 3 more months for his Country to think through carefully the consequences and implications of the exit vote.
Even though the British have voted to exit the EU, the legal process to effect that vote or decision has not been commenced. As far as things stand now, the United Kingdom is still a part of the European Union and will continue to be a part of the Union until Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is activated by the Prime Minister. As far as the legal processes are concerned, its as if nothing has happened!
By Article 50 (3) time does not run for Britain to leave the EU unless the Prime Minister on behalf of the United Kingdom notifies the European Council and David Cameron has refused to do that. He has left the decision to the next prime minister to take.
This new prime minister will only come in October, 2016 and may take another 6 months for consultations before notifying the EU.
This explains the reason why some, notably France and the President of the European Union are impatient with Britain and are calling for an expedited BREXIT.
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"I would like to get started immediately," said Jean Claude Juncker, European Commission president. Why has David Cameron refused to activate Article 50 before resigning? The answer lies in the backlash from the British public against the vote after their stocks crumbled and withdrawal symptoms began to manifest. The Political drama of BREXIT will play on for a longer period than we think. As Dominic Waghorn; the diplomatic correspondent of the Sky News network has stated in his article "Does a Leave Vote Definitely Mean a BREXIT" "...only Britain can begin the process of separation, formally, by invoking Article 50 of the European Union's Lisbon Treaty. For now it seems, Europe will have to wait and watch politics unfold in Britain".
Writer’s Email: eliagbemava@icloud.com