The United Kingdom’s separation from the European Union popularly monikered as “Brexit” has become so volatile, so chaotic such that the word is no longer befitting of the process. It has become a painful divorce with the parties from either side keen to dictate the terms of separation.

During this turmoil, more than 20 ministers in PM Theresa May’s government have quit their positions since June this year while Northern Ireland’s position regarding Brexit has threatened the very existence of the Union. Yet, Theresa May has continued avidly to defend the deal in parliament as she seeks support from MPs.

What began as an economic engagement between the UK and the EU, has now switched to a volatile political debate. Initially, the biggest question was whether the EU would accept what Britain brought to the negotiating table about the new terms of engagement post-Brexit.

But to get to this stage, PM Theresa May would have to get the vote of approval from UK’s House of Commons or vice versa. This step didn’t seem to be tricky in the beginning. But then fractures within the UK government began to form after May failed to get the 100-majority in the general election held in 2017.

And thus, getting the proposed Brexit deal through the UK Parliament has become the main stumbling block after the EU greenlighted May’s proposed terms, in what she termed as “an agreement in Principle” with the 27-Union members.

The ‘deal’

The deal delivered by May to Parliament and the British people focuses on regaining control of laws, money, and borders, but Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has called it a “botched deal” that will bring self-harm to the British people, which is why MPs have had little choice but to reject it.

Over the entire Brexit negotiations economists have often referred to a ‘no-deal’ as a “hard Brexit”. And judging by the way things are moving, it increasingly looks like this will be the ultimate outcome of the entire process. And even if MPs were to somehow accept May’s proposed deal, it could still turn out to be a bad deal depending on the consequences that follow.

Economists have weighed on the potential impact of Brexit on the UK economy, and looking at some of the spotlighted consequences of a hard Brexit, things could easily spiral rapidly to a more delicate situation by March 2019, when the separation process is due for completion.

For instance, there are fears that physical checks between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland will be back in force when crossing the border, something that has stirred the political situation in Northern Ireland. In fact, some analysts are predicting that the Brexit could have devastating effects that could threaten the future of the Union.

This has prompted some MPs to call for another referendum that has the option to stay in the EU. Labour Party leader Corbyn is leading the Brit who want another referendum. But May remains defiant as she continues to urge the House of Commons to pass the bill. The vote was scheduled to take place on Dec. 11 following a five-day debate in the House of Commons, but the government deferred it to a future date a day before. While speaking recently in the House of Commons, May had indicated that the upcoming vote for the deal is “one of the most significant votes for many years.”

Clearly, this implies that in her mind, this is even bigger than the Brexit referendum vote in 2016. And considering all circumstances, it may appear so—that’s how delicate the situation has become over the last several months. No one wants to cede ground, which means it will be difficult to establish common ground. On the one side, there is the unknown to how the new terms of engagement in the financial markets will affect the UK economy, then there is the delicate situation about what will happen to immigration and the general import/export relations in the future.

When the Brit people voted to leave the EU in 2016, top banks began to relocate their headquarters from London, there was a short-term real estate flux, especially in London but since then, property prices have continued to climb. Now, what many feared appears to be coming to a reality. What other top companies will be forced to relocate? Expatriates from Eastern Europe provided a crucial workforce at competitive rates to some of these companies. But now, with tightening immigration rules, it would be imperative that perhaps some of these companies reorganize their workforce and locations, which is why some have opted to move their headquarters from the English capital.

Conclusion

In summary, while the Brit voted to leave the EU if Labor party leader Corbyn’s views are reflective of what the general public think, then it would suggest that this divorce just became too sour to swallow. The EU has repeatedly voiced its regrets at having to let the UK leave the Union, and the UK MPs continue to reject May’s Brexit deal.

On the other hand, expatriates from the EU would rather the Brexit referendum was never held as would some top companies headquartered in the English Capital. This divorce has become so painful to bear that no one really wants it. But they must go through with it. In this separation, it is highly likely that if anything other than a hard Brexit deal is agreed upon, there clearly still will be no winners. Everyone will have to compromise and cede ground for any settlement to hold.