David Cameron's views on the reasons why Britain should stay in the EU, while having been
lengthily debated with Cabinet colleagues and government department officials, have probably
been too hard for most of the country to grasp, and though truthful, too esoteric for his
audience. On the whole, I think the coming referendum will show a majority, however small, in
favour of staying in. The initial doubt about joining the EU was basically a hangover from a
distrust of Europe which was the legacy of the war years. Now, new generations, broadened travel
and a crisscross of employment between Britain and the Continent has made this country welded
into Europe in a way it has not been since the early 19th century, even though we are not prepared to
share the currency. But that may come. And meanwhile, hopefully, Brexit will be discovered for
the fake patriotism that it is. We can be brothers and sisters with the Germans and the east
Europeans and not see the English Channel as a moat protecting us from the outsiders. We are
there already - now we just need to confirm it.
Saturday, 20 February 2016
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