Brexit: My Terrible Confession

I have a terrible confession to make. It’s going to appal some people; they literally might not speak to me again. Are you ready for it? I voted to leave the European Union. I see Facebook friends moving to block me and others disappointed by my ignorance. Let me assure you, though, I didn’t vote leave because I’m a racist. I am racially European, so this would be counterintuitive. Neither am I terrified by immigration. Although I think it should be controlled, I recognise the many benefits it brings. I even prefer the idea of countries cooperating rather than having world wars. So why did I do the unforgiveable, in the sight of many of my friends? My answer is Africa.

Why is Africa, one of the most fertile, mineral-rich continents on earth, with a large, willing labour force, so poor? In part, it’s due to corrupt governments which do seem all too prevalent in the region. You might even blame the colonialism of the past two centuries. The primary reason though, in my opinion, is the European Single Market. This is a trading bloc of rich nations who give each other preferential treatment in order to keep themselves rich. This means that non-member states, which are usually poorer nations, have to pay tariffs when they attempt to sell their products to wealthy Europeans. Take coffee. If we buy coffee beans from Africa, we don’t slap on a tariff. If the Africans roast their coffee first, adding to its value and therefore its price, we slap on 7.5% tax. This makes their product more expensive than their European rivals’.

Again, we love chocolate, and we are delighted to import cocoa products from our African friends. But should they dare to process their own cocoa and try to sell it to us, we increase its price by 30% in order to make our own chocolate cheaper.

Now if you are a chocolate manufacturer, where would you sooner open your factory- in Africa, where they really need the jobs and investment, or in Europe where the EU won’t apply tariffs onto your products? Money talks. So African farmers continue to grow the raw material, but African factories and plants remain unbuilt.

If the Single Market is so good, why can’t we extend it to the developing world? The EU is a cartel of rich nations thriving off others’ poverty. Of course we send aid to Africa; it helps them out a bit and it eases our consciences. On the other hand, it’s like being offered a bandage by the knifeman that’s just attacked you.

I respect others’ rights to disagree with me. Most of my Remain friends voted that way for good reasons, not because they condone Africa’s poverty. I think, however, that we need to look beyond lost British jobs, and consider the millions of uncreated jobs in the global south.

Do not rob the poor because he is poor,

Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;

For the Lord will plead their cause,

And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

Proverbs 22:22-23

Image by Elionas2 from Pixabay