Profile In Focus | Brexit Part 3 (January 2018 - June 2018)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Profile In Focus | Brexit Part 3 (January 2018 - June 2018)
“London June 23 2018 (77) Anti Brexit People's Vote March HDR” from London June 23 2018 (77) Anti Brexit People's Vote March HDR by DAVID HOLT of London, England under CC BY 2.0.
In the beginning of 2018, discussions surrounding Brexit continued to intensify. Brooking's provided an explanation of the different options available for Brexit, including a soft or hard exit. The Guardian reported on a US Senate report that detailed the Russian bid to influence the Brexit vote, further adding to the concerns about external interference.
The potential impact of a "no deal" Brexit on key UK industries was also a topic of concern, as The Guardian highlighted. It raised questions about the future of trade and economic stability. Additionally, the EU decided to relocate the installation of the Galileo satellite system from the UK to Spain, signaling a practical consequence of Brexit.
Negotiations between the EU and the UK progressed with the adoption of negotiating directives on the transition period. The Council of the EU and the European Council confirmed the guidelines for the transitional phase, outlining the process that would follow the UK's official departure.
In February, groups opposed to a hard Brexit joined forces under the leadership of Chuka Umunna, as reported by The Guardian. This alliance aimed to exert influence and push for a more flexible approach to Brexit. However, YouTube claimed that it found no evidence of Russian meddling in the Brexit process, contradicting previous reports.
The drafting of a new EU proposal on how Brexit should work further complicated the negotiation process, as highlighted by NPR. This introduced additional considerations and obstacles to reaching an agreement.
As the year progressed, concerns grew about the potential risks Brexit posed in terms of national security. Insider reported that Theresa May's ministers repeatedly warned about the increased vulnerability to Russia in a post-Brexit scenario. The issue of data privacy and manipulation also came to the forefront, as Channel 4 News aired an exposé on Cambridge Analytica's involvement in Brexit and elections.
The potential consequences for the UK's scientific advancements due to Brexit were raised by The Guardian, which reported on the risks of losing the country's status as a science superpower. The implications of Brexit on social media and public opinion were also explored in a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
In May, Bloomberg published a study suggesting that Twitter bots played a role in the victories of both Trump and Brexit. This raised concerns about the influence of social media manipulation on democratic processes. Furthermore, suspicions regarding Russian meddling in Brexit were heightened by statements from Boris Johnson's father and allegations surrounding Leave.EU donor Arron Banks, as reported by various sources including Sky News and The Guardian.
The relationship between Arron Banks and Russia came under intense scrutiny, with The Guardian, The Times, and the BBC all reporting on alleged connections and meetings with Russian officials. Banks, a prominent figure in the Brexit campaign, faced demands to explain his relationship with Russia.
As the year progressed, Politico explored the 12 "Brexit cherries" that the UK aimed to pick, referring to the desired benefits the country sought to retain from its EU membership. The ongoing concerns about Russia's involvement in Brexit were the focus of articles in The Guardian, which questioned the level of outrage surrounding these allegations.
Bloomberg investigated how hedge funds used private polls to profit from Brexit, shedding light on the financial motivations and speculative activities surrounding the event. The signing of a joint military intervention force by nine EU states, including the UK, further demonstrated the shifting alliances and repositioning of European countries in the wake of Brexit.
Investigations into the ties between Brexit supporters, Russia, and the Trump campaign gained momentum. The Washington Post and CNBC reported on the interest of special counsel Mueller in these connections, adding another layer to the ongoing investigations into potential collusion. The New York Times revealed that Russians had offered business deals to Arron Banks, the leading supporter of Brexit.
Throughout the first half of 2018, Brexit remained a complex and contentious issue, with questions surrounding the democratic process, foreign interference, and the potential consequences for various industries and national security. The investigations into Russian meddling, the financial motivations behind Brexit, and the shifting alliances in Europe added further complexity to an already tumultuous situation.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on June 28, 2023
Previous: Profile in Focus | Brexit Part 2 (2017)
Next: Profile in Focus | Brexit Part 4 (July 2018 - December 2018)
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Putin Is A War Criminal
Russia Is A Terrorist State:
Part 1 (1990s)
Part 2 (2000s)
Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Part 4 (2016 - 2019)
Part 5 (2020 - 2021)
Part 6: (2022+)
Sources for Profile In Focus | Brexit Part 3 (January 2018 - June 2018):
The Brexit options, explained | Commentary - BROOKINGS January 5, 2018
What a ‘no deal’ Brexit would mean for key UK industries - The Guardian January 10, 2018
Groups opposed to hard Brexit join forces under Chuka Umunna - The Guardian February 1, 2018
YouTube: No evidence of Russian meddling in Brexit - AXIOS February 8, 2018
Why A New EU Draft Of How Brexit Should Work Is Complicating Matters - NPR February 28, 2018
Data, Democracy and Dirty Tricks - Channel 4 News March 19, 2018
UK's status as science superpower at risk after Brexit, say MPs - The Guardian March 21, 2018
Wylie: Foreigners worked for Cambridge Analytica on NC Senate campaign - NBC News March 23, 2018
Govt to stay in EU air safety body in blurring of Brexit red line - sky news April 18, 2018
‘It’s not a done deal’: inside the battle to stop Brexit - The Guardian April 28, 2018
Twitter Bots Helped Trump and Brexit Win, Economic Study Says - Bloomberg May 21, 2018
Boris Johnson's dad wants Brexit re-run over 'obvious' Russia meddling - sky news May 30, 2018
Arron Banks ‘met Russian officials multiple times before Brexit vote’ - The Guardian June 9, 2018
How a Journalist Kept Russia’s Secret Links to Brexit Under Wraps - Daily Beast June 10, 2018
Email trail shows how Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore were cultivated - The Times June 10, 2018
Leave.EU donor Arron Banks 'must explain Russia link' - BBC News June 10, 2018
12 Brexit cherries the UK wants to pick - POLITICO June 11, 2018
Russia’s ambassador to UK is high-flying career diplomat - Financial Times June 11, 2018
Arron Banks tells MPs: I have no business interests in Russia - The Guardian June 12, 2018
Security row over EU Galileo satellite project as Britain is shut out - The Guardian June 13, 2018
Arron Banks, Brexit and the Russia connection - The Guardian June 16, 2018
Leave. EU faces new questions over contacts with Russia - The Guardian June 16, 2018
Why isn’t there greater outrage about Russia’s involvement in Brexit? - The Guardian June 17, 2018
The Brexit Short: How Hedge Funds Used Private Polls to Make Millions - Bloomberg June 25, 2018
Nine EU states, including UK, sign off on joint military intervention force - POLITICO June 25, 2018
Russians Offered Business Deals to Brexit’s Biggest Backer - The New York Times June 29, 2018