This long but I think I have covered most things!
The Truth is Out
The more I read on the referendum the more I realise the absurdity of it. I openly admit that in principal I am in favour of the EU, it is not perfect and needs real reform but to me the alternative is regressive. The out campaign want a return of sovereignty, control of our borders, an end to needless at times silly laws, to protect our culture, avoid closer political union, save money, and to be true to our history. All on the face of it reasonable and desirable. Yet dig deeper and examine the vision the out campaign is promoting it is then obvious that withdrawal from the EU will never deliver their vision.
Sovereignty
If sovereignty means having supreme power or authority then this is not unachievable by simply leaving the EU. Few, if any, modern nation states can claim to have sovereignty when judged against this definition. Those that come close are either super powers or despotic regimes, that few if any British people would wish for, e.g. North Korea.
The UK is signatory to a over 14,000 international agreements, , some EU specific but many not. These impose duties and laws on us, we live in a global world the concept of absolute sovereignty is a myth. A few examples of non EU agreements are:
• NATO - Defence
• SOLAS - Maritime
• Security Control in the Field of Nuclear Energy – Energy and Security
• Protection of the Environment Through Criminal Law – The Environment
• International Labour Convention – Human Rights
• Montreal Convention - Environment
• Convention on International Civil Aviation – Aviation
• International Transport of Goods – Transport
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation – Education
• Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals – Animal Welfare and Conservation
I have not seen any arguments that we should withdraw from any other binding agreements. Whilst we may have a greater degree of autonomy in what we do and do not sign up to, commercial, ethical and security needs demand that we are collaborative and co-operative.
Control of our Borders
The UK has a single short, 310 miles, land border with one other nation state. For 30 years the biggest terrorist threat we have ever faced emanated from across this border and yet this border has never been controlled in the way the out campaign are now advocating. Prior to the security threat their was mass immigration across the self same border, at the time many UK citizens resented these immigrants but the controls that are now being advocated were never proposed.
The migration of people is as old as the human race and whilst security, economic and social issues now mean we have to apply some control this has to be practicable and not restrict the conduct of legitimate, migration, travel and business.
As an island we are capable of providing the border controls required to address transient problems and risks, being politically isolated from Europe will not make us any safer or more impregnable.
End Needless and at Times Silly Laws
Leaving the EU is hardly likely to put an end to this. The UK and constituent parts has long history of strange and silly laws, indeed it is part of our culture. How about these amusing ordinances:
It is an offence to beat or shake any carpet rug or mat in any street in the Metropolitan Police District, although you are allowed to shake a doormat before 8 am.
It is illegal to eat Mute Swan unless you’re the Queen of Great Britain.
It is an offense to be intoxicated and in charge of a cow in Scotland.
Under the terms of the Protection of Wrecks Order 2003: A person shall not enter the hull of the Titanic without permission from the Secretary of State.
It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament in a suit of armor;
Whilst some of these may have made sense when they were enacted, some are recent, the fact that they remain is worrying. So not being in the EU will not stop unnecessary law making.
Protect Our Culture
Culture is a concept that by its very nature is dynamic and ever changing. Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts.
Taking each of these in turn how has the EU changed our culture.
We still speak English, in fact more Europeans speak English than any other Language, no impact there. Very different to the UK Governments efforts to destroy the Welsh language in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Europe is predominantly Christian, the UK is predominantly Christian, no change there then.
We have certainly changed our diet, however the biggest influences are from cultures out side of the EU, so we cant pin our far more colourful and tasty menus on them.
Social habits, music and arts, this covers a wide range of activities and customs. We still celebrate the torture, mutilation and execution of a 16th century Religious Terrorist, Morris Dancing is still legal and actively pursued, excessive drinking and rowdiness persist.
EU directive juggernaut are has not stopped us driving on the left, having road signs in miles, beer served in pints, and paid for in GB Pounds, even cheese rolling is still allowed.
Of course none of this matters because our culture is not formed by EU, we choose our music, art and theatre, we are adventurous in our cuisine and we initiate and terminate traditions, there is nothing wrong with British Culture it is alive and well and evolving nicely.
Closer Political Union
The real issue for me, there are Eurocrats and politicians who have a vision of a European Super state, nothing new there ask Julius Caesar. The current EU is far more politically connected than the original European Coal and Steel Community, and its various successors. The out campaign disparages the former Eastern Bloc countries citizens rights to free movement while failing to acknowledge that their recently won freedom from an oppressive overlord will not be given up to Brussels lightly. The idea that a European Super state could be foisted on us through the back door is just implausible.
Money
The UK net contribution to the EU budget is less than 0.5 per cent of GDP, £18.4m per day, sounds a lot! The CBI estimates the EU adds a £192m a day to our GDP so net gain of £173m. Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands, all pay more than we do and are arguable the most successful and advanced EU members.
Through its global clout the EU is a springboard for trade with the rest of the world: it accounted for 23% of the global economy in 2012. 30 trade deals have been negotiated by the EU, including the Single Market itself, British firms have full access to a $24 trillion market the largest single market in the world. The recent deal with Canada and on-going discussions with Japan and the US could double this to $47 trillion, the UK would struggle to achieve the same quality of trade deals independently.
Leaving the EU will mean that the UK will have to fill the EU funding gap created by withdrawal or significantly reduce investment particularly in some of the most deprived areas of the UK. To put it another way all investment decisions will be taken in Westminster where party politics will have a far greater influence than the current system which while not perfect cannot be said to take into account marginal seats. The net contribution we make, call it our membership fee, will still be payable but as a non-voting member. It was the founding fathers of the USA who said no taxation without representation, yet here we are with the out camp advocating exactly that.
Bad History
The ridiculous Brexit History of the UK needs correction. The UK came into existence through the Act of Union 1707, as a Sovereign Nation we are a little over 300 years old. The first King of All England, Edgar was crowned in Bath in 973. England had a succession of Anglo-Saxon and Danish kings for the next 80 years before the Norseman William the Bastard invaded and gave us continental rule for the next 400 years. These Norse invaders were replaced by the Welshman Henry Tudor, his line lasted until a Scot was made king in 1603. The Scottish kings were not very good and in 1653 an Englishman finally led the country. He banned music, Christmas, mince pies basically anything that was fun or frivolous. On the death of the Lord Protector the nation came to its senses and invited a Frence/Scot to take the throne. He was succeeded by his brother the Roman Catholic James II this did not turn out well and the people of England asked a Dutchman called Billy to kick James out and Rule in his place. We continued with the foreign theme of rulers with Germans filling the gap left by Queen Ann’s failure to produce an Heir. The people of the UK were content with these Foreigners being in charge provided they did not ban anything that was fun or frivolous and left them alone to go to new lands and exploit to the full whatever and whoever they found there. Then when we get a monarch who could be passed of as English she marries a German. He may not have ruled but he certainly had an impact on the British way of life.
Our country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, not Great Britain, this is reference to largest island in the British Isles archipelago. It is therefore not necessary to put the Great back into Britain, it is physical truth.
Conclusion
So having our laws, customs and culture dictated or influenced by foreigners is nothing new it is who we are, it has always been so. It has served us well and created one of the most attractive, tolerant and diverse nation on earth. So please BREXIT stop playing the false sovereignty, borders, culture, financial and history cards, they are more Greek mythology than reality. The referendum is about our future not the past, that cannot be changed, by leaving the EU a successful future is less certain.
