The European Union has always been a tricky topic for politicians. Ever since the UK was rejected from the European Economic Community we have had a tempestuous relationship with our continental neighbours.
The source of this has never been fully explained, but it owes a great deal to the essence of British character.
We Brits somehow manage to welcome all nationalities, colours and creeds whilst at the same time mistrusting any foreigner who tries to poke their nose into our business. As long as someone who is only second generation British is as fervently anti-French and as mistrustful of the German sense of humour as the rest of the country, then all is well. The one thing we cannot stand is being told what to do by someone outside our borders, and with the continued erosion of our sovereignty this is becoming more and more apparent.
Despite boasting healthy immigration figures we continue to shun the Schengen Agreement, which permits movement over many European Union borders without the need for a passport. Our judicial relationship with the European Court of Justice has been tricky, especially in light of the Factortame saga, which saw Tony Blair billed for Margaret Thatcher’s decision to ban Spanish fishing trawlers from UK water. The case went on for more than a decade.
In light of the recent financial travails and the weakening of the euro as a workable single currency, leaving the EU is now not only a viable but also a logical option to take. The Copenhagen criteria, which lays down the necessary requirements for any country wishing to join the EU, states that its aim is to create political, economic and monetary union. There doesn’t seem to be much of that at the moment, despite the many meetings and summits being held across the continent.
Would the UK leaving the EU be such a disaster? We’re part of the continent whether we like it or not, but would the average person on the street notice if we didn’t remain part of the largest market economy outside the US? With the future of the EU hanging in the balance and members like Greece at risk of becoming the first country to be expelled, it might be worth knowing what the consequences might be. In Au Revoir Europe: What If Britain Left The EU?, David Charter sets out the UK’s European options in all their complexity and will help anyone make up their own mind about which option they want the UK to take.
With the growing possibility of a simple ‘yes, no’ referendum, it would be sensible to know in which camp you stand.