I am one of the 48% who voted to remain in the EU. I feel British and European and will never accept the result of the referendum. As someone said recently, "The people have spoken but do they know what they've said?". My philosophy is this:
- The EU is far from perfect but our own 800 year old democracy is also flawed with an entirely unelected second chamber. We should work to improve both - from the inside.
- A united Europe is a worthwhile cause given the conflicts of the past. To resolve differences around a table is surely the best way forward for any civilisation?
- Small countries can survive but must be stronger when coming together as a bloc to protect themselves and each other against China, Russia and the USA. Globalisation is good for us all provided we have a strong voice.
- The UK has many problems, not least huge inequality, poor educational attainment and poor productivity. These are, in my opinion, all linked but have nothing to do with the EU as we are about to find out.
- Other countries in Europe such as Germany, Belgium, Holland, France and Italy export much more than we do and Germany in particular is very successful while "shackled" by EU regulations. If they can succeed inside, so can we.
- Newspapers over the past 30 years have created a wholly fictional EU as some kind of Wizard of Oz caricature, unseen, undemocratic, petty and malevolent, that the rest of Europe would never recognise.
- If we fail to get a trade deal (as many expect when we are unwilling to accept the free movement of people) we will be the only country in Europe trading with the EU, the largest, richest single market on earth, on WTO rules. This would be hugely damaging to the the UK economy as well as a bit ridiculous.
- Younger people voted to remain in larger numbers and sooner or later as the older, anti EU generation passes on, they will apply to rejoin the EU anyway.
- We will need to trade and export like never before to pay for the things we need to import but the companies we all rely on to do this were almost universally in favour of remaining inside the EU.
A 50 year career in manufacturing tells me we are going to struggle to compete. In my own lifetime we have lost ownership of a lot of industry including shipbuilding, steel, cars, motorcycles, glass, cement, chocolate and energy. Signing trade deals across the world is fine, provided you have something to trade. We don't. Some people say we are not good at manufacturing but we are good at services.
How does that work? Are there two types of British person, dullards drawn to manufacturing while the brightest and best go to services? I don't believe this for a second. Services will eventually go the way of manufacturing - unless we recognise and begin to address the real problems.
Finally, those advocating Brexit never seem the most level headed of people. They are largely like the blokes you meet in the pub who have simple (usually wrong) solutions to every national difficulty and brush aside any objection however well founded. Many leading Brexiteers are journalists or politicians who are not expected to make Brexit work anyway and whose jobs will be secure whatever happens. Remainers on the other hand seem to me to be calm, rational people who have considered the problems carefully and decided we are better off inside the EU. It would be shattering to me if leaving the EU made us all better off.
How does that work? Are there two types of British person, dullards drawn to manufacturing while the brightest and best go to services? I don't believe this for a second. Services will eventually go the way of manufacturing - unless we recognise and begin to address the real problems.
Finally, those advocating Brexit never seem the most level headed of people. They are largely like the blokes you meet in the pub who have simple (usually wrong) solutions to every national difficulty and brush aside any objection however well founded. Many leading Brexiteers are journalists or politicians who are not expected to make Brexit work anyway and whose jobs will be secure whatever happens. Remainers on the other hand seem to me to be calm, rational people who have considered the problems carefully and decided we are better off inside the EU. It would be shattering to me if leaving the EU made us all better off.
