The UK vs Europe - let's stand up for both!

Parliament last week saw extraordinary passion and zeal from the Tory Eurosceptics in their bid for a referendum as to whether Britain remains a member of the European Union.  The European question hangs around the Tory party's neck like a permanent noose and day by day the Tory party shows just how right wing many of the party's parliamentarians are as they gradually hang themselves day by day...  Mr Cameron's pragmatism seems to be increasingly drowned out by the young Turks in the party (let's remember, it wasn't just the Mr Redwoods of this world that rebelled), which leads many to question how long Mr Cameron can control them.  I am thankful that the Liberal Democrats are in the Coalition (and I suspect Mr Cameron is also relieved) to inject a high dosage of realism into the Government's policy in Europe.  Mr Clegg's superb article in the Observer today shows that a pro-European stance is a pragmatic stance, because pro-Europeans know that our economic survival rests on a modern innovative European Union with member states working collectively to take on and compete with the future great powers.

In this post, I wish to passionately make the case for Europe.  As someone who has volunteered in Romania and studied in Italy, Europe has not only brought us economic benefits with a common market, but also cultural benefits, which contribute to bringing continued peace to Europe and this should not be underestimated.  Tory little Englanders forget that for thousands of years, Europeans effectively killed each other instead of working collectively.  My grandfather never let me forget this and he was a veteran from World War II.  He played football with German prisoners of war out in Egypt and in his own way he appreciated the importance of interaction between nations and that as a result we understand and not fear each other.   Of course, cultural interaction can still take place without the EU, but it is certainly a lot easier in the context of free movement of people, which is one of the great achievements of Europe.

In some respects I sympathised with the sceptics, to the extent that yes, we should at long last have a debate on Europe and really have the discussion about Britain's place in the world and where the country wants to go, so that the case for the economic and cultural benefits of Europe can be made.  The sceptics hold on to an imperial past and an Atlanticist foreign policy that increasingly looks redundant in an ever changing world.  American is in decline as the top world power - that is apparent.  It will continue to be the supreme military power for the next 25-30 years, but its economic supremacy will be gone within the decade.  Britain experienced this in the 1890s, losing the top slot economically, but maintaining military supremacy for decades after.  However, we have to accept that nation statehood is not the same as it was in the 19th century.  Global groupings will be the future with decisions being taken on an increasingly global scale.  We need to be a full participant shaping events, promoting European ideals of liberty, fairness and human rights, not just as a lonely island sitting on the edge whilst global events overtake.  

However, what is clear is that now is not the time for this debate.  We should not in an economic crisis be distracted by this debate or cynically using this situation to renegotiate our position within Europe.  That is not what a good friend does - we should be supporting our friends in Europe not, not putting our self interest first, which will only result in pushing us further to the periphery.  

As a Liberal I still believe in the single currency as a concept and nations working collectively together (which Keynes also envisaged), but reforms are needed and euro members seem to be working towards that.  We should not rule out future membership and also be leading the charge for a more innovative and Liberal Europe.  The knowledge economy is the key to Europe's survival and development.  Europe should do less of some things, but collectively countries should work together to improve science and innovation, economic development, climate change, defence, cultural investment and foreign policy to benefit all nations.

It's time to stand up for Europe and in doing so, we will stand up for Britain.