Sirs,
Rational Argument for not Re-joining the EU
I have read Dr Nick Maurice’s piece outlining a case for re-joining the EU.
I will propose a counter argument.
The EU is very bureaucratic and is continually introducing new restrictions like the working time directive, complex data protection laws, and hinders scientific advances like genetic modification in agriculture which is practiced almost everywhere throughout the world. The direction of the EU is towards ever closer union, so more of this proscriptive legislation will develop in the future. Ultimately the aim is the destruction of the nation state, except for France and Germany of course.
The EU allows the development of the new pipeline under the Baltic to supply Russian gas to Germany and thereby bypassing existing lines through Ukraine and Poland to their financial cost.
But that is OK because it is Germany.
The EU allows some countries to ignore rules accepted by others and whilst we were in the EU the UK was first in the queue to adopt these rules, often without sufficient Parliamentary scrutiny, whereas other countries cherry picked.
The EU accounts have never been audited, so none knows where a lot of the money goes.
The EU economy has slowed in relation to other world growth areas, especially in the Far East.
Uncontrolled high levels of immigration forced down wages for lower paid work and made it uneconomic for British workers. Centres in towns in agricultural areas were “taken over”, causing problems with integration, schooling, and medical support.
Maybe at present, there are shortages of labour and goods since Brexit, but these will be resolved by the UK becoming more self-sufficient, and work will be better paid. Automation and AI will be applied as it is developed and became cost effective.
What terms would the EU requires us to accept if we re-joined?
Almost certainly Joining the Euro.
Joining the EURO which is run for the benefit of prosperous northern states to the detriment of the Club Med countries, Spain Portugal Italy and Greece where unemployment is at 10 to 20%, unacceptable high level for any democratic country and certainly for the UK. Maybe they might require us to help “levelling up” these countries which might be expensive, or even a bottonless pit.
Italy’s economy has been static for 15 years, because they are tied to a currency which makes their goods uncompetitive, so we do not want to be in that situation.
Do we want to to join with countries like Hungary and Poland that are restricting the independence of their judiciary and trying to stile journalistic freedom ?
Do we want to join countries that have unacceptable levels of corruption and merely want to be recipients of EU funds, which they achieve by manipulating their economies? We would be required to contribute to these funds.
Since Brexit, we can no longer easily and quickly travel and work in the EU and stay as long as we would like, but this is a small price to pay for the freedoms and opportunities created by leaving.
Yours
Alan Oliver
Marlborough
Hungerford Health and Well-being Event
