James Wilson: I will vote “Yes” to support Ukraine and “No” to any tolerance of military aggression from Russia

James Wilson, British expert, director of the EU-Ukraine Business Council, said this in exclusive comments to an Ukrinform correspondent in Brussels.

"I am a European first and I am and a proud Scot, I am disappointed that my Prime Minister has yielded to populist tabloid pressure to hold this sham referendum in the UK. It is stoking the worst kinds of nationalistic and jingoistic rhetoric from the Muppets of British politics like Boris Johnson, George Galloway, Nigel Farage - a generation of political losers. My hope is that this referendum gives us the opportunity to consign these Muppets to the dustbin of political history where they belong. I will vote “Yes” for Europe, I will vote “Yes” to support Ukraine and “No” to any tolerance of military aggression and expansionism from Russia," the British expert stressed.

According to James Wilson, by opening Pandora’s Box and declaring a national referendum to be held on 23 June in the UK, David Cameron has plunged Britain into 4 months of uncertainty, and hot national political debate about Britain’s role in Europe - yet again. But business and the financial markets are unforgiving; they do not like uncertainty. They must factor into their strategy and risk management that having a referendum means that the British public may actually say “no” to Europe.

"So the markets must take this into account; there will be a high degree of anxiety over the next four months and volatility in the stock market and in the international exchange rate for the British pound. All elections are highly unpredictable, and referenda on Europe are notoriously so. They cannot be controlled by the ruling political classes," he noted.

The expert explained what it would mean for Ukraine if Britain were to vote “No” in this referendum. "Firstly, Ukraine would lose its best friend in the EU. Secondly Russia would be delivered a PR victory for its loathsome supporters from the extreme far right and far left parties in the UK. Thirdly, English as a language would start to disappear from the EU," he said.

In addition, the expert noted that Scotland would demand independence from the UK in order to secure its future as a Member State of the EU.

"These are important issues for Ukraine, and Ukrainian politicians should not underestimate the importance of the consequences of “Brexit” for their country," the director of the EU-Ukraine Business Council summed up.