Britain's Divorce From Europe

Never have Britain’s weekend newspapers been so divided over an issue as they were over David Cameron’s use of Britain’s European veto.

The Guardian was appalled, the Mail triumphant, the Financial Times disappointed, the Telegraph surprised and delighted, the Times cautiously welcoming. Most extreme was yesterday’s Observer, where melodrama replaced serious comment, most notably in the bleak assessment of the veteran Europhile Will Hutton. The truth is, of course, that the implications of Cameron’s veto will take years if not decades to be fully realised.

One thing is apparent, though: Europe is no longer the ‘future’. For the last four decades British government policy, regardless of which party was in power, has been based on ever closer links to Europe. This looks like a mistake. Previous to those 40 years, since Henry VIII indeed, England and then Britain was traditionally wary of the Continent, viewing it as a source of revolution, war and political interference, different in religion, in politics, in trade and, not least, in law. Britain preferred to look elsewhere for preferment and, for better or worse, created an empire.

The collapse of that empire, a process welcomed at home and abroad, and recognition of its much diminished power, led Britain closer to Europe. Had its leaders been possessed of greater foresight they would have created new, more progressive links with Britain’s former dominions, colonies and trading partners, for it is they – Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Brazil, India – to whom the future belongs.

This moment in British politics, whether welcome or not, should at least encourage a discussion about Britain’s strategy for the future. For the world is a very different place than it was when Britain entered the Common Market. It is both larger and smaller and its opportunities boundless. They should be grasped, for there may not be many more opportunities left.

On his blog, Tim Stanley, who writes The Contrarian for History Today, offers his own robust views on Britain and Europe.

From the archive

The Medieval Euro

Though the Euro may seem modern, its roots go back to the 9th century. Simon Coupland introduces the single European currency of Louis the Pious.