As the clock reaches 11 pm GMT on Friday 31
January 2020, I celebrate the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union with
profound satisfaction. I believe our economy will perform well, our sovereignty
will have been restored and our national morale will be greatly refreshed. There
will no doubt be abrasive discussions on the terms of future trading with the
EU, but all sides have an interest in a fair agreement and, while no-deal
remains possible, surely common sense dictates an early and comprehensive Entente
between the UK and her trading partners on mainland Europe. The people of the
UK long to step away from the European issue which has divided us grievously
for at least 3 years.
In retrospect, our original accession was a serious
political error, and we should have heeded the warnings of Labour leader Hugh
Gaitskell in 1962: It means the end of a thousand years of history. You may
say: "Let it end." But, my goodness, it is a decision that needs a
little care and thought.
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| Hugh Gaitskell, patriot |
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| De Gaulle delivers his veto in 1963 |
We should have listened to
Charles de Gaulle when he gave lucid explanations for his veto to UK accession
in 1963:
England in effect is insular,
she is maritime, she is linked through her exchanges, her markets, her supply
lines to the most diverse and often the most distant countries; she pursues
essentially industrial and commercial activities, and only slight agricultural
ones. She has in all her doings very marked and very original habits and
traditions. In short, the nature, the structure, the very situation that are
England’s differ profoundly from those of the continentals.
But we
were dazzled by the early success of the EEC and believed that joining it would
transfer some of its star-dust to our economy. It never really delivered,
although our trade links greatly altered, allowing the EU to generate a huge
surplus from trading more freely with us.
The Thatcher government of the 1980s reformed
our economy single-mindedly while Europe became more bureaucratic and
integrationist. The cracks between the parties deepened, stimulating Margaret
Thatcher to declare in Bruges in 1988:
We
have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only
to see them re-imposed at a European level with a European super-state
exercising a new dominance from Brussels.
We remained a round peg in a square hole. We
negotiated rebates, opt-outs and exemptions – sticking plaster covering our
fundamental systemic divergence from the European Project. A single currency
(the Euro) was introduced and plans laid for a European Army. Pressure grew, as
the direction of travel of the EU became clearer, for a referendum on
membership (full marks to indefatigable campaigner Nigel Farage) and an
over-confident David Cameron conceded one. The vote to leave in June 2016
shocked the UK establishment and triggered a furious attempt to derail Brexit,
which only failed with the December 2019 election confirming Brexit under
vigorous Boris Johnson.
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| Margaret Thatcher, crusader for Britain |
Boris signs the
Withdrawal Agreement
Boris and his government have stiff challenges
to face. The imbalance of North and South, excessive concentration of power in
London, further devolution, developing the transport infrastructure with HS2
and airport expansion, reviewing the powers of the Supreme Court, reduction of
carbon emissions, reform of the House of Lords to create a more relevant second
chamber and productivity improvements are typical issues requiring attention.
Then there is a heap of knotty foreign policy matters to unpick. A Conservative
government with an 80-seat majority is well placed to tackle this weighty
agenda.
Can the divisions bedevilling us be overcome?
It will take some time, as Leavers will not easily forget the gloating
doom-mongers and nay-sayers nor forgive the likes of John Bercow, Dominic
Grieve, Amber Rudd or Philip Hammond for their treachery, whatever their
professions of principled sincerity. Yet I recognise the pain and worry felt by
many good people who loved the ideals of the EU, who admire European culture,
who want to travel unimpeded through Europe and who have many friends and deep
connections there. Such people deserve reassurance and support. Our policies for
allowing EU citizens to reside here must be liberal and suited to our economic
needs. Whatever their origins, we should welcome the salt of the earth to our
shores with open arms.
We are entering a new and exciting epoch, when
freedom and opportunity will flood in and refresh us. May our beloved United
Kingdom flourish!
Happy Brexit Day to you all!
SMD
31.01.20
Text Copyright © Sidney Donald
2020.
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