EU Debate

Why Did the UK Vote Leave?

You can forget all the arguments and counter-arguments put forward by the politicians for and against union. They could not both be right and the electorate were left to decide who was right, with no solid, reliable means to make that judgement. In any case, the real reason for dissatisfaction was actually nothing to do with most of the arguments being put forward by either side. As I have argued elsewhere on this site, the UK is seen by the smaller nations within it as an English Empire rather than a union of equal partners. In the case of the EU, the union is more like an empire in which no one knows who the emperor is! The Scottish referendum and the EU referendum were both held because a sufficiently large proportion of the population felt disenfranchised. The proof of this is in the reaction of Scotland to the EU referendum. They believe, justifiably in my view, that they are being dragged out of the EU against the wishes of the vast majority of the Scottish people. It was the English vote that determined the outcome of the EU referendum.

Why Leave the UK but Remain in the EU?

Northern Ireland and Scotland voted to remain in the EU, although a significant proportion of their electorate would like to leave the UK. Why? I believe that it is because, within the UK they feel that they are not in control over their own affairs (lack of sovereignty) and that by leaving the UK but remaining within the EU they will actually have greater control than they do now. It is probably also the case that they feel that they are financially better off as members of the EU and that, what they see as the “English Government” in Westminster will be less generous than the EU on spending on infrastructure, etc.

What Should Be Done?

In the UK pages of this site I have argued for a radically changed structure for UK government in order for the UK to survive in the long term. In the same way, I believe that the EU has a short life expectancy unless it recognises its failure to meet the democratic aspirations of its member populations. I am sure that, in time to come, when the EU has sorted itself out, Britain will want to join again. I fear that the EU will have to fall apart as more countries vote to leave, before a really democratic EU can be built. My regret is that it will not happen in my lifetime.

EU Issues - Debate

UK/EU

Made with Xara

Why Did the UK Vote Leave?

In both referenda, you can forget all the arguments and counter- arguments put forward by the politicians for and against union. They could not both be right and the electorate were left to decide who was right, with no solid, reliable means to make that judgement. In any case, the real reason for dissatisfaction was actually nothing to do with the arguments being put forward by either side. As I have argued elsewhere on this site, the UK is seen by the smaller nations as an English Empire rather than a union of equal partners. In the case of the EU, the Union is more like an empire in which no one knows who the emperor is. In both cases, a referendum was held because a sufficiently large proportion of the population felt disenfranchised. The proof of this is in the reaction of Scotland to the EU referendum. They believe, justifiably in my view, that they are being dragged out of the EU against the wishes of the vast majority of the Scottish people. It was the English vote that determined the outcome of the EU referendum.

Why Leave the UK but Remain in the EU?

Northern Ireland and Scotland voted to remain in the EU. Why? I believe that it is because, within the UK they feel that they are not in control over their own affairs (lack of sovereignty) and that by leaving the UK but remaining within the EU they will actually have greater control than they do now. It is probably also the case that they feel that they are financially better of as members of the EU and that, what they see as the “English Government” in Westminster will be less generous than the EU on spending on infrastructure, etc.