Most Brits Support EU Disengagement

I cannot understand why Tony Blair is trying to tie Britain ever tighter into the grip of the EU. And, apparently, most Brits agree. This today from the Comment Section of the Telegraph (UK):

. . . A new EU treaty is being drafted by the German presidency. It will almost certainly be a "slimmed-down" version of the 2004 Constitutional Treaty that was rejected by the French and Dutch electorates.

The changes Angela Merkel incorporates will probably be the minimum she considers necessary to pacify the member states that baulked at the original treaty. One of the changes will be the symbolic dropping of the title "Constitution".

Tony Blair, mindful of the British electorate's rising euroscepticism and impatience with the EU's petty regulations and waste, has shamelessly leapt on this redrafting to deny us the previously promised referendum. He has airily declared that the new version will only be a "mini treaty" intended to make the EU "work better" and devoid of any constitutional significance. He is being either disingenuous or dishonest.

Of course, the British people should have the opportunity to express their views on the next EU treaty. But, more fundamentally, they should be given the opportunity to express their views on what Britain's relationship with the EU should be.

Global Vision, our campaign group, recently commissioned ICM to conduct some polls on this key issue. People were given a choice of three options. The first was to stay within the EU and participate in further integration. The second was to have a looser relationship with the EU based on trade and cooperation, whilst opting out of political and economic union. And the third was to withdraw from the EU altogether.

Twenty-seven per cent wanted to stay in, whilst 36 per cent chose the looser relationship option and 29 per cent wished to leave altogether. The residual 8 per cent were in various states of uncertainty. Overall, therefore, two thirds of all respondents wanted radical change - with the "looser relationship" based on free trade the option of choice.

People were also asked if there should be a referendum on the looser relationship option. An overwhelming majority, 69 per cent, said yes.

It is clear from these results that the wish to fundamentally change Britain's relationship with the EU is the majority view. It is not an "extremist" view. Moreover, most people believe there should be a referendum on a looser relationship with the EU. It is time this majority view was given a voice.

We recently set up Global Vision to represent the British people's moderate and sensible views. We don't believe that Britain should turn its back on Europe. But we do believe that it should negotiate a new relationship based on trade and cooperation, while opting out of the EU's political and economic union.

We fully understand why Britain joined the EEC in 1973. Britain was seen as an economic "basket case". Membership of the EEC Customs Union, which included the then dynamic economies of Germany, France and Italy, looked very -attractive.

Since 1973 the world has changed. Britain's economy has outperformed those of the other major European countries in recent years while China and India are now major global economies. Britain, as a major trading nation, must be free and flexible to take every advantage of this changing landscape in order to prosper fully.

Membership of the EU's political and economic union now holds Britain back. The EU's regulations damage business competitiveness, its protectionist policies restrict trade and Britain's increasing net budget contributions could be far better employed domestically by cutting taxes or improving public services.

Britain can have a wonderful future, but it must be freed from the EU's political and regulatory shackles. The British people, of course, already fully understand this.

Amen. Read the entire article here.