Brexiting stage left

So much gnashing of teeth. So many cries of No Fair!

I am a European. I have been so since I was old enough to read about and understand the, then, EEC. An Economic Community. And I voted to leave it. Voted for us to quit something I truly believe in. Here’s why.

Ultimately, the EU as it is today, is a Co-Op. It’s the biggest Co-operative organisation there is. It is the epitome of cooperation. Across national boundaries and languages. It has morphed and evolved since the origins of ye ancient (by some standards) BeNeLux dream. It now shares a currency. And why not? For bartering is so much easier when everyone knows the cost of everything. Shared labour, no borders, presidency rotated every 26 weeks. Simple processes with (If all be believed) excessive bureaucracy. Yes; I’m sure we could lose some of the officials and the universally derided MEPs. But ultimately, a Co-op. It’s a bloody good thing to have.

And then the UK got involved. The UK broke Europe. Can we join? Ooooh, yes, please do. Um, OK then. So we did. And then successive Prime Ministers decided to go into battle. Only they know why.

I have used many analogies to try to describe my frustration in the run up to the referendum. So I will add one or two here. Try this one? England Rugby Union captain Dylan Hartley gets asked to join a top notch European side. A pan-european one. OK he says, let me play hooker. I’m dead good at playing no. 2; hooking in the scrum. But I don’t want to do the throwing in at the lineout thing any more. Get someone else to do that. See?

Or, maybe more simplistically; you are asked to join a posh club. And after a few months, decide that the tie is not your thing. Or the jacket. You negotiate a rebate on the annual subscription and refuse to bring food to the Christmas party, then eat the entire prawn ring before anyone else arrives. Get it?

Good.

The UK broke the EU. We don’t deserve the EU.

When the single currency came about, we said no. Other countries; big players with a lot to lose; they went ahead. We said no. And sat back all smug and justified when things went wobbly. Ah. We said. Told you. Now think. Just imagine. It’s not hard! Fade through the mist to dreamland… We join. We Joined at the earliest opportunity in fact. One of the largest contributors to the EU. One of the largest economies in the world, with the most respected financial centre on the bloody planet. And we waved goodbye to Sterling. Scroll on! By now, the Euro would be the currency against which, all others exhange to and from for business. The USA, India, China, by now; all dealing world wide in the Euro. Exchanging goods and services through the EU as casually as any person breathes in and out. I’m convinced that the fact Sterling is a stronger currency is a BIG draw to those who come here and either work or use the Social Security system, incurring the wrath of the locals in the process. Sterling is a black spot across Europe. We really should have made that leap. Really. And now? New entrants to the EU would be admitted when; and only when their economy has demonstrated that it is sustainable and reliable enough to manage the shared currency. Not because of fear; but because of the strength of the Euro. And the UK would be at the centre of this. It isn’t though; and I have just woken up from my dream…

Of course, it didn’t happen. One of the richest nations in the world still insisted upon claiming as much back from the EU as possible. Resisted and refused to play along, like a petulant child who wanted two slices of cake because Poland had been given two.

We have held the EU back. Stunted growth and ignored the rules.

Fast forward and here; we have the current PM telling us. Ah. Referendum. I promised you one, did I not? In-or-out. It’s fine chaps, because I have negotiated this really good deal so we are getting the best of both worlds. In is the thing. The EU is also a splendid thing. Cheesy smile and fingers crossed behind his back. Of course, I was duped. Find me someone at the top table who would publicly endorse the EU IN FULL. All of it. Euro included. Because something this fundamental will surely only work if everyone uses the same rule book. Without crossing some of the rules out completely; or amending a few here and there.

We have broken the EU properly now.

I voted Exit. If the UK was a full member; embracing every element of the principles and aspirations I would have, of course, voted to remain. With a big sparkly cross. I couldn’t. Couldn’t endorse something that our politicians are trying to dismantle. We don’t play by the rules; so should leave. And quietly. The word reform has been used so many times that even Chancellor Merkel, in her less lucid moments when dealing with the British; has started to use it herself. Evolution and progress are words we don’t use to describe the EU from our side of the channel. There’s a smug arrrogance at work. We want to reform. Correct. Look here, UK. Either we are in? Warts and all — or we should fuck off. And we chose fuck!

Many fuckers did the choosing thing for their own, monosyllabic reasons. All that can be said on that front, is who on earth is going to harvest the cauliflowers next year, eh? Think hard and think on. Co-op. cooperation. freedom. horses for courses; food on the plate. Hard decision to make. But I don’t honestly think we are actually ready for the EU yet. It’s just sad that it’s taken us so long to work that out.

My views and mine alone. My own and very own personal views. So they could well clash with anyone reading this. Excellent. It’s called freedom of choice. Try not to beat me with it.