First Option: Positive

After all this time, let's look back to 31 January 2020 and consider the legacy of that great day.

As you will know, it is a historic and glorious date: at 11pm on that date the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) officially left the EU - "referred to as Brexit".

There were many celebrations: Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister at the time and instigator of the successful initiative, led the celebrations using government funds, and the long-forgotten Nijel Ferrage, once leader of the minor and short-lived "Brexit Party", also hosted a minor event for a select few obscure politicians.

The referendum vote on 23 June 2016 was very close: 17,410,742 voted to leave the EU while 16,141,241 voted to remain on a 72.2% turnout.

Brexit was a bold step which was the beginning of a great resurgence in Britain's status in the world and in its fortunes. The UK became a stand-alone country which was free to forge new commercial deals with the rest of the world in the form of "trade-deals", setting out the ways in which the UK could sell its products and services with great confidence, while allowing it access to the resources required. These trade-deals negotiations proceeded with great speed with other countries: the United States of America (USA), the European Union (EU) being the main two important examples, with other countries falling into line quite quickly. Our Commonwealth connections helped considerably - the popularity and hard work of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and later His Majesty King William V being crucial for these discussion. Fortunately, the almost instant abdication of King Charles III had almost no negative consequences.

Once the UK had "regained its sovereignty from the EU" (the inspiring words of Boris the Great and Wise), its people became greatly encouraged. The temporarily divided views of the Brexit debates and vote and the arduous negotiation process of gaining the Great Brexit Deal and passing of the legislation were finally resolved and the country united in surging forward. With this new positive attitude productivity increased in leaps and bounds, the enlightened immigration policies of Boris's government rapidly led to reduced unemployment of British subjects, while clever use of non-UK workers in some areas of employment also contributed to a happier and productive workforce. Boris's policies helped many leaders of industry to increase their investment opportunities in selected off-shore funds and reduce their tax burden significantly, for the benefit of all in the UK.

Great British design expertise helped the UK's burgeoning industry improve their products, many of which became highly sought after around the world and hence highly profitable. For instance, sales of television rights to UK football's leagues' matches to the rest of the world became leading highly prized, due to the exemplary spirit of gentlemanly behaviour on pitch and in the watching crowds. Other sports also benefitted from the boosted spirits with many new world champions taking the UK to the top of the world rankings. In other industries, the rise of the UK's computer companies overtook the previous dominance of US giants with few exceptions, and UK car manufacturing became mostly UK-built and designed, especially boosted by the British invention of new battery formats leading to much improved efficiency of electric vehicles. The tourism industry was a little slower to respond to the new optimism, but great improvements are beginning to be seen: the new tax imposed on all non-UK visitors to many previously free UK museums and attractions was a limiting factor for a while, and the photograph tax imposed on US-based companies such as Facebook and Instagram for posts by non-UK residents did dent the market.

The abolition of the Upper Chamber of Parliament was a great success and was implemented with almost no problems at all. The replacement with a second Chamber consisting of only 50 members entirely appointed by the Government proved to be a very popular initiative. The Lord and Ladies who lost their franchise were allowed to keep their titles for the reminder of their lives - a generous concession by Boris the Wise.

The UK is now a world leader with great influence eclipsing even the days of the British Empire.