[seany65]

Originally Posted by hoss

After more than one and a half years of dithering on the part of the British government, one thing is evident: they did not and they still do not know what they are doing.
It all amounts to a leap in the dark.
If one considers the risks, namely creating an economic recession of unprecedented size and duration,(1), dissolving the United Kingdom (if Scotland decides to leave) and reigniting the Northern Ireland conflict (if a hard border to Ireland is established), versus the benefits, namely being spared further immigration, the Brits must be scared to death by foreigners.
If one considers that Britain was the spearhead of colonial imperialism,(2), this is an interesting role reversal.

(1): What if things don't go that badly? being in the EU has not stopped Britain going through recessions.

(2): Really? Are we somehow forgetting the Roman Empire, the Persian Empire, the Islamic Empire, the the Mongol Empire etc.