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Britain’s thinking hard about leaving Europe There’s a lot to be said for general elections. They spring clean our views, bring in new talking heads, change tack for the entire country, and allow hope to arise that things can change for the better, even if it’s the same old crew running the ship under renewed scrutiny. On the other hand, for stable countries like Australia and the UK, the process is so finely calibrated and the parties near-enough level in their popularity that it often boils down to a last-minute argy-bargy where spoils can go to the dirtiest fighter. There is usually a relatively small votes gap between winner and loser, so shifts in policy new leaders enact may be more trouble than they’re worth. And they might only get reversed in an election or two’s time anyway. But,
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Not too many people are gasping for an answer. The motion is welcomed in the main by those who, for varying reasons, dream of a Britain once more afloat on its own – free, independent, unbothered by the continental nagging and endless rulebearing, and more easily able to resist the effects of any fu-
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of legislation for the bureaucratic monster the Union has become. So, on the one hand, there’s proof the EU can be influenced to change for the better, to align more closely with Britain’s wishes; on the other, what a giant and expensive struggle! Is it worth trying? Perhaps more worryingly, the British exit (‘Brexit’) tribe is unlikely to disband even if it loses.
meanwhile, the country must be governed, and so to work the winners go. Sometimes, bigger changes are afoot and a government knows its legacy is on the line; whatever it strives to do in every other area will vanish in contrast to the one giant act it has pledged to undertake. So it is for the Conservative party this May with their promise to hold a referendum that decides whether Britain should stay in or leave the European Union.
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ture Euro meltdown. Plus, the borders of our beleaguered sovereignty – to the delight of the many muttering about droves of ‘long-term visitors’ – would be once more autonomous and tightly controlled. Prime minister David Cameron’s take is that he would like to change the way Europe is run and then continue to be a member, but he’s gambled that Britons want a say and will like him for listening. (The last time they were asked was 1975, two years after joining; 67 per cent voted pro Europe.) Nowadays, the majority, I fear, care little. Cue endless debate, newspaper coverage, the listing of infinite pros and cons, and sentimental or bullish poring over what the differences might be, before a last-minute tearful plea by the French, probably, that we must stay. The truth is, as a member of the EU, we’ve been rebellious and ungrateful for years,
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18 May 6, 2015 The Byron Shire Echo
even while contributing massively to business and governance and with a A$12 billion (£6.4 billion) annual net contribution to EU coffers. For a long while, we were obliged, for example, to fly the European flag several times a year, especially in the week beginning May 9, which is Europe Day. Co-incidentally, May 9 is the date of our general election, so that could become known as No-toEurope Day.
Fly the flag A fine was levied for not flying the flag. Companies had to display it alongside the EU logo if they received any European funding. But companies up and down the land almost never did. They couldn’t be bothered. They didn’t like the flag. They didn’t like being told what to do. The list of apathetic reasons went on. So, in 2010
Britain was fined A$290 million (£150 million), which was duly, merrily paid. Almost no-one complained. It was worth it. Then, in 2012, the European Commission made a new rule that required the flag to be displayed every single day by all government departments and any organisation receiving a dot of EU funding. What did they think would happen? That’s fighting talk. And so we sent in the venerable Secretary of State the Rt Hon Mr Eric Pickles, a very large mound of formidable Albion lion. He fought. He fought some more. He won. Two years later, the rule was scrapped and hailed as a surefire victory in the war to mould Europe to Britain’s wishes. Problem is, it was a small battle. And there are 27 other countries who must ratify a truly enormous raft
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A former Byron resident, Daniel Sage is a London columnist and the author of the novel Fall Curve. See more at www.danielsage.co.uk.
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Fighting talk. Source: Eversham PT
Last September, Scotland held a referendum on whether to break from Britain and go it alone. The No party won, and the United Kingdom remains intact. However, and of great relevance for the In/ Out of Europe debate, even though the motion was defeated, the clamour for breakup has not gone away or even died down. On the contrary, the independent Scottish National Party’s membership has doubled since the vote. So, although we may spend a year microscopically inspecting our relationship with our nearest, oldest best friends, and even if the vote comes in a resounding yay or nay, it may well stir up such a fuss over the matter that whoever loses will stay sore and not leave it be, chewing everybody’s ear ’til kingdom come. And for fun I bet we’ll start flying those flags anyway.
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Daniel Sage
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