On Thursday 23 June 2016 a referendum was held in the UK to decide whether the UK should leave or remain in the European Union. To the great surprise of the government and the media, the Leave won by a slim margin of 51.9% to 48.1%. The significant factor was that the referendum turnout was a staggering 71.8%; more than 30 million voters. This vote resulted in a change of our Prime Minister with Theresa May being chosen as the leader to manoeuvre the country out of the EU.
Thus, Article 50 had to be activated to instigate the exit process out of Europe. So, what is Articles 50? A simple explanation is that it is a plan for any country that wishes to exit the EU. This was created by the Treaty of Lisbon and became law in 2009 as an agreement signed up to by all EU states.
Article 50 is a short document that notifies the European Council of the country’s intent to leave and therefore triggers exit negotiations which will take place over a two-year period (unless everyone agrees to extend it).
This week, the Prime Minister Theresa May received a letter from Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon formally requesting a second Scottish referendum for independence. Scotland’s votes in June 2016 were in favour of Remain, in line with London.
This division currently being experienced is not only in the UK but worldwide; as was seen in the USA votes which saw Donald Trump successfully become the 45th President of the USA.
Aesop was a slave in ancient Greece and lived during the 6th century BC. He is credited with the following:
A lion used to prowl about a field in which Four Oxen used to dwell. Many a time he tried to attack them, but whenever he came near they turned their tails to warn another so that whichever way he approached them he was met by the horns of one of them. At last, however, they fell a-quarrelling among themselves, and each went off to pasture alone in the separate corner of the field. Then the Lion attacked them one by one and soon made an end of all four.
David wrote: How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! ~ Psalm 133:1
This week let us continue to pray for our leaders, our Government, our new District Bishop Lincoln Davis and his wife Sister Val Davis and each other.