Let's not turn our back on the EU
Michael York was shocked by the behaviour of Brexit Party MEPs at the opening session of the European Parliament. That prompted him to set out this celebration of the achievements of the EU. He calls for a referendum to settle the question now that we all know so much more.
The “about face” performed by Nigel Farage and Ann Widdicombe and the rest of the Brexit Party MEPs during the European anthem at the inaugural session of the European Parliament was both childish and shameless – demonstrating an utter lack of respectable decency.
It is actually exciting to be a European.
Yes, the EU has flaws and is in need of reform – something in which the United Kingdom could and should participate rather than seek to have no voice at all.
But despite its rectifiable weaknesses, the European Union is a marvelous and innovative venture. It celebrates our collective European history and embodies our multicultural richness as incomparably sacred. Why must we turn the clock back and not participate in forward movement? My children have been able to live, study and work on the Continent as part of this transnational freedom.
And the UK’s trade links with all the member nations of the Union! How do these not contribute to the continuing establishment of European peace and the surmounting of the previous centuries of conflict and war? Moreover, with the complexity of tariff-free commercial connections that have been developed over forty years, experienced commercial diplomats based in London have expressed real doubt over the possibility of Britain’s being able to succeed with any viable disentanglement.
It seems increasingly obvious that the Tory Party’s reluctance to have a Second Referendum is because they know, thanks to both their nearly three years of mismanagement and the now greater understanding by the public of what leaving the EU actually involves, the results of the First Referendum would be overturned and the Brexiters would lose. If three ballots on Mrs. May’s ‘Deal’ are democratic, why would a Second Referendum not be?
My personal wish is that the Second Referendum be one in which the people could choose between the No Deal option and the revocation of Article 50. Keep it simple and let us all then accept which outcome succeeds! But let the people of today decide!
Blogs on London4Europe express the views of the author and not necessarily of London4Europe.