AFTER last weekend's Eurovision result, who really believes we, the UK, will get favourable terms and conditions if we leave the EU?
For decades we have insulted other Europeans, going back to the ridiculous "Up Yours, Delores" and beyond. For years we have behaved with petulance towards anything outside of "little England" and sooner or later other European countries are going to say, "enough is enough".
We are not "sleepwalking out of Europe", we are running toward a cliff, hoping that other European countries will come to our rescue and behave in a mature and responsible manner as they have done previously.
The idea that we'll get favourable trading terms and conditions like Norway is bonkers. Norway is a net exporter of oil and gas, which Europe needs. We are net importers of gas and electricity, which our industry needs.
We have nothing with which to bargain.
Will the other European countries really want another country to be like Austria, in a trading zone, but outside the EU? It is unlikely. The idea that this will happen, particularly when you consider all of the insults we've made towards Europe, makes that likelihood virtually impossible.
Some people say we should become the 51st state of the United States of America, losing the Queen and gaining a president. The USA is federal; the EU is a confederation, a huge difference.
Some would say we should restart the Commonwealth and eat New Zealand lamb, what is wrong with Welsh lamb? Reinvigorating the Commonwealth as a trading zone would take years, possibly decades. We will have even more years of suffering while a Commonwealth trading zone is built and becomes strong enough to have some clout at the World Trade Organisation.
The EU is not perfect, very few things in life are, but consider the options. After previous tough negotiations, are we likely to get anything better?
Will we find ourselves outside the EU, having to meet their trading terms and conditions with no say in how they are formulated and having to pay trading tariffs?
It makes you wonder whether the Europhobic Isolationists – UKIP – and "right whingers" – parts of the Tory Party – have considered any of these possibilities. It makes you wonder whether they watch the Eurovision Song Contest and considered the consequences of their actions.
Duncan Anderson,
Mill Lane, East Halton.
