A British manifesto for Europeanism
Brexit will ruin Britain. We are alienating our natural partners and friends in order to chase a fantasy. Far from gaining power, we are being left diminished, our international reputation for good sense and moderation is now a half-forgotten memory. In a globalised world, having real sovereignty means doing more together, not less. As individual European countries become less important, it will be ever more vital for the UK to pool its sovereignty with others in Europe in order to best defend our interest. Brexit must be abandoned and a radically different path must be taken for the good of all.
Too much UK politics focuses on short-term bursts of cash, a real European policy for integration will help stabilise our future:
1. The UK should join the euro, ensuring far greater long-term stability and wealth. Members have learned from the crisis and the UK will be able to apply the necessary pressure to ensure rules are followed.
2. On immigration, we need to keep EU Freedom of Movement, not only as a cultural and economic boost to the UK but as an essential right of British citizens. Though we are not part of Schengen we have a natural interest in its smooth functioning, we should recognise the need to strengthen Schengen's external borders and support EU policies that do so. It is particularly important to listen to suggestions from border states like Spain, Italy and Greece who are experiencing the most pressure in this regard.
3. By integrating more deeply in the EU and supporting financial regulation, London can be a stable financial hub. We can drive prosperity and innovation without letting financial corporations write the rules. In these fundamentally multi-national industries, setting a common standard in many countries is essential. As a eurozone member, we would have greater say on EU financial regulations.
4. There can be no love for UK armed forces without support for EU military integration. If we try to stand alone, our military will become purely ornamental. It is important, however, to not rush into the forming of a single European army with a central command, this should be a delicately managed process and joint military actions should be approached incrementally.
2. On immigration, we need to keep EU Freedom of Movement, not only as a cultural and economic boost to the UK but as an essential right of British citizens. Though we are not part of Schengen we have a natural interest in its smooth functioning, we should recognise the need to strengthen Schengen's external borders and support EU policies that do so. It is particularly important to listen to suggestions from border states like Spain, Italy and Greece who are experiencing the most pressure in this regard.
3. By integrating more deeply in the EU and supporting financial regulation, London can be a stable financial hub. We can drive prosperity and innovation without letting financial corporations write the rules. In these fundamentally multi-national industries, setting a common standard in many countries is essential. As a eurozone member, we would have greater say on EU financial regulations.
4. There can be no love for UK armed forces without support for EU military integration. If we try to stand alone, our military will become purely ornamental. It is important, however, to not rush into the forming of a single European army with a central command, this should be a delicately managed process and joint military actions should be approached incrementally.
5. Europe must be able to protect its citizens and ensure their livelihoods. When China tries to dump cheap steel into the European market, endangering our local industries, we must put forward proposals to prevent that.
6. Europe is enriched by its religious diversity and we see tolerance as a shared European value. Nonetheless, it would be naive to deny that some countries are deliberately funding religious institutions and preachers in Europe who teach anti-democratic and fundamentalist versions of their religions. We must tackle this head-on by proposing EU laws to constraint this external funding while promoting those who teach the same tolerance that we do.
Some of these policies should be enacted quickly, others should be addressed over years or even decades - Europeanism does not mean that we must throw caution to the wind, indeed the construction of a prosperous and united Europe demands that we think carefully about how to build that future.
A strong Europe is a strong Britain. Let's work together as Europeans to direct our destiny in an uncertain, sometimes hostile, world.
A strong Europe is a strong Britain. Let's work together as Europeans to direct our destiny in an uncertain, sometimes hostile, world.
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