Keeping Britain In the EU

'Hear the Lion's Roar' There are many problems within the EU, a lack of transparency and the so-called democratic deficit to name two of the most serious in my humble opinion. These issues, real or imagined, give ammunition to the Europhobes, and the media that supports them, from London to Paris and beyond. It is these problems that honest British people baulk at, and rightly so. These issues do need to be discussed; the EU project cannot continue at this pace and simply hope no one will notice. Trying to create a federal Europe by stealth will only anger people and in the grand scheme will only set back the Federalist dream. The EU and its supporters need to argue, debate and make the case for it, constantly. There will be set backs but we will live to fight another day. I want the EU to succeed, I want the UK to be at the heart of it, but I don’t want that to be at the cost of our democracy and our liberty. I recognise that 20 years from now if the EU survives it will exist as a de facto Superpower, but the only way it will be allowed to survive is with the consent of its people.   Now, if I read one more thinly veiled semi-racist comment about the ‘awful Brits’ spoiling everything for the continental Federalists I think I’ll burst. Every anti-British commentator seems to think the entire population of Britain is obsessed with the War or the Empire or Roast Beef. It feels like we’re the continents favourite scapegoats and even Barroso and Van Rumpoy tried to isolate and ignore the UK (ie 62 million EU citizens) with its legitimate concerns in a shameful display at the last summit, undiplomatic to say the least. Right now there are far too many comments from self-righteous and self-proclaimed Federalists across the internet that say we should go and good riddance. As a UK Federalist I say SHUT UP, you are not helping our pro-EU cause with such stupid nationalist inspired comments. What we need is support from our continental colleagues and furthermore we, and the rest of the EU, need real discussion and real reform of the central apparatus. I don’t think we would be better off without the EU but I don’t think the EU would be better off without us either. The UK is a net contributor, spends the most on defence, has enviable foreign diplomatic and intelligence services, is the home of the financial capital of Europe (for now), hosts some of the world’s top Universities and to top that off is the motherland of the world’s second language. And I say this to the rest of the EU, like a jealous ex-wife you would miss us, even though you’d never admit it. And we, like a mid-life crisis husband who’s run off with Miss America, would soon realise that we miss your intellectual conversations and pithy but incessant scolding’s. Oh look, I got through all that without mentioning the War, the Empire or Les Rosbif, oh wait...