British European Union Angst

Britain joined the Common Market on the 1st January 1973 along with Ireland and Denmark. In 1975 we had a referendum about whether we should remain members. The referendum was called to resolve political infighting within the governing Labour party. Many labour party MPs from both the left ad the right of the party were opposed to British membership of the Common market. The left believed that it would become a rich man's club and some on the right of the party were concerned about a loss of sovereignty.

There was a campaign coalition between business interests, the majority of the Conservative party and the whole Liberal party who argued for Britain remaining within the Common Market. Many senior members of the Labour government also campaigned for Britain to remain.

There was intense and intelligent debate about the issue and every one could see the pros and cons of membership; the decision was not a black and white one. Britain could have survived and prospered without being a member of the Common Market. However, the economic benefits were mostly clear and the vote to remain in the Common market won the the day as 67% of the British people voted to stay in with a turnout of 65% of the voting population.

This was the first National Referendum. All of us who voted believed that we had made a once and for all decision about the future our Nation. My own opinion was that it was a 50:50 decision and I did not finally make my mind up until I entered the polling station. I reserve the right not to reveal how I voted.

The referendum should have been the end of the matter and for a decade or so our country got on with the business of being a fully committed member of the Common Market. We embraced the freedom of movement of people, capital, goods and services. Our country prospered and grew and we became as wealthy as our German and French partners.

Our nation has adapted itself to the ways of the Common Market and latterly the EU. It would now be very difficult to unwind ourselves without considerable cost and to little benefit.

We should be very careful about blindly accepting the criticisms of Euro-sceptics and secessionists.

When I voted I was worried about the loss of national sovereignty but my fears have been allayed.

I ask everyone to to consider where the EU has impinged upon the sovereignty of the UK and where it has impinged adversely on the important rights of the individual.

Has the EU insisted that we should become a republic rather than a constitutional monarchy?

Has the EU dictated to us how we should conduct National and Local elections?

Did the EU prevent us from have a referendum on proportional representation?

Has the EU interfered in the right of the Scottish people to decide their future as part of the UK or as an independent state?

Has the EU interfered with our judicial system and the right to a fair trial and to be tried by a jury?

Has the EU interfered with the appointment of senior government ministers, law officers etc.?

Has the EU tried to interfere with the rights of the Church of England or any other religion in the UK?

Has the EU interfered with the UK's schools policy, the National Health or our Defence policy?

Has the EU interfered with the individual's right to own property, start a business, join a football club, go to the theatre or to see a film, go to the pub, to play cricket or rugby, to drive a car, to move around freely or to worship or not worship?

I think you will find that the EU has not impinged upon most aspects of our national political, cultural and social life.

Why is this? It is because we share common cultural values with our French, German, Spanish and Dutch neighbours. We all believe in democracy, the rule of law, freedom of speech and movement. We share common cultural values we play similar sports we like to go to the theatre, to watch films and go to rock concerts and classical music concerts. We all love family life and like to go for a drive or train trip on a Saturday but above all we do not want to interfere in the national lives of our neighbours.

The people of the UK do not want to impose a constitutional monarchy on the French anymore than the French want to impose a republic on us. All of the Nations of the EU have a live and let live attitude to one another.

The EU Commission does not rule us and neither does the European Parliament both; institutions have very limited powers. Most of the power of the EU resides in the Council of Ministers and for big decisions a national government is empowered with a veto. If the EU has impinged upon your rights then your national government is responsible.

The UK and Denmark  have chosen not to join the Euro.  No European state tried to to force us to join monetary union. The UK and Ireland have chosen  not to join the Schengen agreement  and no European state tried to force us to do so.

The  EU Commission and Council has limited its activities to trying to improve the commercial life of EU members but not always successfully. It has messed up Fishery and Agricultural policies but this situation can be improved by negotiation and co-operation but not by threatening to leave the club.

In other areas the EU Commission and Parliament have succeeded improving such items as water and air quality in the member states. They have also improved the mobile telephone usage and reduced roaming charges etc. They have not always been a failure. They have also tried to improve food standards.

There have been very many benefits to EU membership. All of our economies have become more competitive and diverse. Europe has become a very desirable place to live and Britain has become part of this, that is the reason why so many people want to emigrate to Europe. Do we want to make our countries so bad that no one wants to come?

Before we decide, in the UK, to leave the we need a proper debate; one which is based on reason and objectivity and consideration of the possible consequences of secession.

We should not leave because we do not like foreigners, or immigrants or because "johnny foreigner" has decided we should have meat rather than rusk in our sausages. Unfortunately this is the level of debate.

Consider this: more than 40% of our trade depends upon the European Union, We export more to Germany than to the US. More than £400 billion of trade relies upon the EU.

One million UK nationals reside in Germany, Spain and France many of them are over 60  so if they were forced to return home, how would we look after them. The immigrants to Britain are mostly young and are not such a burden on the National Health  and only 1.7% of them claim benefits. The overwhelming majority of EU immigrants make an economic contribution to our country so we can afford the extra schools needed etc.

Consider this also: the influx of French, Germans, Spanish and Italians etc. has improved our cultural life and improved the diversity of our nation without affecting the culture peculiar to Britain. You can still watch Coronation street or play cricket if you want to or eat Bacon and Eggs for breakfast.  But you could even try a tasty Italian recipe from Nigella Lawson.

If we leave the EU we will probably be forced to join the EEA just like Norway and Iceland and for the same economic reasons. Norway has 5 million people and it must pay 300 million Euro pa to join the EU trading club. Norway has to obey European trading laws but it has no say in how those laws are formulated. Norway has to accept the freedom of movement of EU and EEA member nationals.

Britain would probably be forced to adopt a similar position to Norway but pro-rata we would have to pay more - something like 3 billion Euro pa . Britain's net contribution to the EU budget is around 3 billion pa. We would  have no say in how European Union law is formulated just like Norway. We would still have to accept the free movement of people and "johnny foreigner " will still be saying we must put meat in our sausages.

Many people in Europe value our membership and value what we have to say  and they all want to speak our language.

It is cold outside the tent  - so maybe it would be better to stay inside it and warm our hands around the stove with "johnny foreigner" and eat real sausages rather than ones filled with gristle and rusk.

So please be careful what you wish for and think carefully before you vote.