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Britain after Brexit: What’s its role in the world?

How will the UK evolve now that it has left the European Union?

The Brexit transition period has ended and a new trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union is in effect. British PM Boris Johnson hailed β€œthe dawn of a new era” saying it marked β€œa moment of real national renewal and change.” But there’s no consensus on what that change should look like and how it will impact the UK’s place in the world. The government in Westminster is now free to strike new trade deals, but US President-elect Joe Biden has indicated he’s in no hurry to enter negotiations, having opposed Britain’s exit from the EU from the beginning. Whatever deals the UK signs will involve offering concessions to trading partners and debate over how much to give up and to whom will be fierce. A new points-based immigration system is being introduced to allow Britain to manage the skills of arrivals, but there’s been little debate over who should be allowed in and whether people from Commonwealth countries should be given preferential treatment. Mr Johnson will host the G7 and UN climate conferences later this year and says the country will remain a key player on the world stage, staying in Nato and retaining its seat on the UN Security Council. But Britain’s political influence over its European neighbours has diminished and debate about potential future alliances has begun. Ritula Shah and panel discuss Britain’s new role on the world stage post-Brexit.

Available now

53 minutes

Last on

Sat 9 Jan 2021 04:06GMT

Contributors

Tom Tugendhat - An MP in Britain's ruling Conservative Party and chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee

Sir Simon Fraser - Former head of the British Foreign Office, now a managing partner at Flint Global Advisors and the deputy chairman of the foreign policy think tank Chatham House.

Helene von Bismarck - German historian and writer specialising in Britain's international and colonial past

Also featuring ...

Shashi Tharoor - A senior Indian MP, former Under Secretary General of the UN and author of the book β€˜Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India’

Photo

A globe of the world with an union flag planted in the United Kingdom

Broadcasts

  • Fri 8 Jan 2021 10:06GMT
  • Sat 9 Jan 2021 00:06GMT
  • Sat 9 Jan 2021 04:06GMT

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