The circumstances don’t line up perfectly, but the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom Thursday, and its ramifications for the United States, have at least echoes of 37 years ago when a change in leadership across the pond precipitated one here.
In 1979, the British Labor Party had a weak leader in James Callaghan, the country’s economy was tepid and strikes roiled the country. In the same year, the United States had a weak leader in Jimmy Carter, the country’s economy was tepid and a hostage crisis roiled the country.
A general election in the U.K. that year ushered in a strong leader in Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. A presidential election in the U.S. the following year ushered in a strong leader in Republican Ronald Reagan.
In 2016, the U.K. has seen its way of life threatened by unfettered immigration and sovereignty by unelected bureaucrats in the European Union. The United States, meanwhile, has seen its way of life threatened by unfettered immigration and rule by a president who uses executive authority and by unelected bureaucrats in federal agencies.
The Brexit (British exit) vote signaled a desire for a new start for the U.K., one of independence, nationalist supporters of the “leave” side said. Though an official break from the European Union would not occur for at least two years, “remain” supporter Prime Minister David Cameron said he would resign by October and leave the departure date up to his successor.