which resulted in a hung parliament that led to the Conservative Party forming a ‘confidence and supply’ arrangement with the controversial Northern Irish Party, the DUP. As a result, not only did the UK end up with a weak government but a government that has been unable to strike a deal with the EU to enable a clear path towards its departure from the regional bloc by March 29, 2019. The UK finds itself disputing the financial settlement that it owes to the EU following its decision to leave. The rights of EU citizens living in the UK as well as the question of the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (which remains part of the UK) are also contentious issues. This has led to a sense of disillusionment towards the UK by its European neighbours.
In addition, the UK government has faced some of the most embarrassing revelations over the last few weeks. These include claims by female members of parliament in the House of Commons that they have been harassed by their male counterparts, which embarrassingly led to the resignation of the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon. Also, Secretary of State for International Development Priti Patel recently resigned after it was discovered that she had held secret meetings with the Israeli government. In addition, there have been repeated calls to sack of the UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson for negligently making a statement about how British-Iranian national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was training journalists in Iran when it was quite clear that she was only in the country to meet her family. This statement has reportedly jeopardised Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s chances of being released from prison by the Iranian authorities.
What is unfolding is the biggest constitutional crisis within two of the world’s largest democracies. However, this is a feature that is also prevalent in the developing world and was evidenced recently by the military takeover in Mugabe’s Zimbabwe. However, this comes as hardly surprising when the developed world itself is currently fighting its own demons.
The writer is an advocate of the high court.
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