Feedback | 26 April 2003

Comment on The dawning of a new Europe by Tim Congdon (19/04/2003)

What an excellent article by Tim Congdon. It is so good to see a coherently argued case for UK withdrawal from the EU. I agree entirely that the case must be made in a way that is not narrow and jingoistic so that its advocates are seen to be forward looking and positive. However I do not agree with Professor Congdon that the UK can keep its Treaty of Rome obligations as a matter of “good form”. The Treaty of Rome makes UK law subsidiary to EU law and hence impinges upon the sovereignty of Parliament. The UK should withdraw from the Treaty of Rome too.

It would be good to see many more articles in The Spectator making the respectable case for withdrawal. For too long it has been taboo to discuss the subject in polite circles. Perhaps The Spectator can take the lead in changing this so that at long last we may begin to re-examine the arguments for and against membership. It is no longer good enough for the EU-philes simply to characterise the case against membership as mad and extreme. By forcing them to engage in rational argument The Spectator would help to stop them getting away with it.
Tom Harris

I understand the rationale for turning Europe into a trading club without any political clout. That’s simply Britain’s traditional role of being America’s Trojan horse in Europe. Obviously, with a GDP equal to the USA, a population 60% larger and a currency that is stronger than the US$ and backed by prudent financial policies, there are those in the anglosphere who are getting worried about where Europe is heading. The current divisions on Iraq are amongst Europe’s leaders and not it’s public.