The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright insists the United Kingdom is not pulling out of the European Union yet until certain negotiations are done.
Although he says Brexit will kick off by the end of March 2017, which the new Prime Minister, Theresa May has announced.
He added that during the process of negotiations, the U.K will stay in the European Union and enjoy the benefits and also keep to the rules and regulations.
“It’s a complex and complicated series of negotiations which most people feel will continue for about two years.” He added.
Post Brexit
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, Mr. Arkwright further explained that the period chosen for the Brexit kick off is because the government has a lot of paper work to prepare due to the fact that the UK has been in the E.U for over a decade.
He added that the government is trying to have the right people in place, discuss internally at the political level, and the government of the UK is taking a very confident outlook after the exit.
“There is first the internal process which goes on when that is completed, which the Prime Minister has said will be by end of March 2017, then we start the negotiations with the European Union” he said.
Trade Relationships
Mr. Arkwright disclosed that the UK external trade relationship has been done through the EU as a member and the regional bloc has negotiated trade relationship with lots of countries in other economic regions areas for many years.
He said the government needs to collapse those relationships in order to build new ones to stand on their own, but the EU affects the lives and member states in the UK which he insists is a complicated negotiation.
Cracking Down On Immigration
On immigration reforms, he stated that Nigerians who have overstayed in the U.K in effect have broken the rules, but now have rights to legal remedy.
He promptly adds that those whose appeals are rejected will be returned to Nigeria.
He maintained that “Nothing has changed just stick to the rules”.
For the U.K passport holders, he said they will need a separate Schengen visa to visit any of the E.U countries because the U.K is outside the Schengen.
