Category: British

“Liberalism is trust of the people tempered by prudence. Conservatism is distrust of the people tempered by fear”. William E. Gladstone wasn’t half right. Every time I read an article from a Brexiter its about fear and failure.  There seems to be an obsession with both.  Lines like: “voters cowed”, “never get what it wants …”, “Cameron blew his big chance…”, “We don’t need trade deals…”. Generally, they aren’t an optimistic bunch.  They’re rather gloomy and pessimistic but hold a glossy romantic notion of the 1950s.  True there a few like Johnson who might best be described as a dangerous adventurer or buccaneering buffoon but who would want to put our Country in their hands?  Britain was in decline before it joined the EEC so let’s not go back to those days.

Personally, I’m highly optimistic that Britain in the EU will thrive and grow. The evidence of my experience living, working and travelling in Europe makes this a perfectly prudent thing to say.  Today, it’s in the news that the unemployment rate is the lowest since 2005.  The status of the world’s 5^th largest economy was achieved whilst part of the EU.  London remains a cosmopolitan global city. There’s a host of reasons to be optimistic.

World beating engineering companies like Rolls Royce want us to stay in the EU. They value the stability that ensures they can make long-term investments in new technology.  British universities not only gain financially from the EU but profit from a collaborative approach. We are a smart nation.

One chance is all we get at this EU referendum. More than anything else the impact will be felt by those who are just leaving school or university.  For the next 40 years, their world will be shaped by the decision that people will make.  Just as my future was shaped by the 1975 vote. Have confidence and Vote Remain.

With only a few days left to register to vote for the EU referendum, it’s sad to see doorsteps hit by glossy misleading propaganda. The leave campaigners are telling massive whoppers at every turn.  Here are a few examples from a newspaper that came through my letter box this week.

They say: “Britain will retake its empty seat at the World Trade Organisation.” However, the 28 Member States of the EU are WTO members in their own right.  Yes, they speak as one but no seats are empty!  This is a gross distortion of the facts.

They say: “Britain is one of the biggest exporters in the world.” Truth is Britain is 9th in ranking, only just above Canada.  EU Member States Italy, Netherlands, France and Germany are bigger exporters.  Leaving the European single market will not take Britain up the ranking!

They say: “It is estimated that leaving the EU will boost our manufacturing by £45bn a year.” That’s more than a 25% increase!  UK is currently the 11th largest manufacturing nation in the world.  EU Member States Italy, France and Germany are bigger manufacturers.  The prediction is nonsense when compared with the best done by the fastest growing countries in the world.  Better to work with our European partners rather than spurn our successes.

They say: “UK science is not reliant on EU funding”. Just about every scientist you may talk to will disagree with these words.  A great deal of collaborative research work will be lost as the advantageous terms and conditions we have currently will be lost if we leave.  Just at a time when the EU is shifting spending towards innovation and research.

They say: “Agricultural subsidies will be kept.” That’s a huge percentage of existing monies coming from the EU.  So, where’s the bonus that will end fuel poverty and mend the NHS and fund a shortfall in research spending?  The leave campaign are promising the NHS £100 million a week but are they talking about printing money that doesn’t exit?

None of the predictions given by the outers are believable unless you believe in magic. Either that or we have a pack of jokers who are not at all concerned about the facts.  I trust that the British people will not be hoodwinked by such sleight of hand.

The way to grow our trade is negotiating as a powerful European bloc at the WTO.

The way to export more is grow the single market of 500 million that’s on our doorstep.

The way support manufacturing and research is to work with our partners in Europe.  As the expression goes: the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Britain will only be better off by remaining in the EU. Proudly I say; we are not quitters.

It’s so basic.  It’s there in just about every religion.  It’s there in the modern secular world too. It’s written in just about every ancient writing about human behaviour. 

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.”  This simple rule can be worded in different ways.  I remember it, maybe from long ago at Sunday school in Horsington church as: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Equally it could be put as: Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.

People are scratching around for statements that are undeniably true or guaranteed concerning the EU referendum on 23 June.  Well here’s one; after the referendum no matter what the result this simple rule will continue to apply.  In the world of international trade it can be called; Reciprocity.  A definition of reciprocity looks like this: “a relationship between people involving the exchange of goods, services, favours, or obligations, especially a mutual exchange of privileges between trading nations.”

So, if I’m sitting in a Government office in Westminster and decided to increase a trade tariff on say; steel coming into Britain I would reasonably expect the reciprocal to happen.  That is that; the Countries impacted by our decision would take an action to rebalance or redress the situation.  

Equally, if I’m sitting in a Government office in Westminster and decide to increase or change immigration policy and restrict the movement of people I would reasonably expect the reciprocal to happen.  That is that; the Countries and/or the trading blocs impacted by our decision would change their policy towards British citizens. 

One way of looking at this is to consider the highly interconnected nature of the world and rightly conclude that; “no man is an island”.  Something will be done in return to my actions – that’s a certainty.  I’ve see the British Press describe this as a “threat”.  By pointing out that in the real world reciprocity happens we see the two sides of the coin.  In other words; I do something bad then you do something bad or just the same; I do something good then you do something good.  Personally, growing up with three brothers we all learned this at a young age. 

We have to ask ourselves, with all modesty, was Jesus issuing a threat in the Sermon on the Mount?  I don’t think that was the intention.  The simple command or law just sums up something everyone knew at the time but occasionally choose to forget. 

Today, Vote Leave is choosing to ignore this rule big time.  Vote REMAIN understand the this golden rule very well.  You should too.  Let it guild you in the way you vote. 

Chancing my arm writing on this subject. I’ll narrow it down to the suburban British Character. I’ll leave the country set to another time. There’s about 25 million of us packed into the South East of England and lots more scattered across this fair island.
It used to be possible to draw a picture of a British policeman or woman and compare that picture with an American or a Continental European equivalent and the differences were immediately obvious. Not anymore but with one visible exception – a gun. The idea that the police were just citizens in uniform is different from viewing them as an arm of the State employed to enforce the law. Some of this British picture is mythology but that still matters because it impacts public behaviour. Undeniably there is a convergence going on where in years to come it will be impossible to tell police officers apart. Perhaps this is inevitable given that the threats we face are likely to be common ones.
Moving on. There are a lot of images locked in our collective memories, usually based on black and white movies that stereotype the British character or should I say characters? Now, I will get into trouble. Except for the gifted few, there’s reason to say that the British are not good at the art of conversation. It’s true the British weather in its infinite variety always gives us a place to start. Moaning about the trains, busses and planes provides a good kicking off point too. However, these paths are so well trodden than no blade of grass can grow. Our humour is full of stereotypes verbally tripping over themselves to the amusement of others. Pedants will pick you up on grammatical errors with a smug smile knowing how much irritation they cause. Freely expressed opinions can be trumpeted without any consideration for the consequences.
I recently came across a Punch cartoon by Pont. It’s beautifully concise. A middle aged man, presumably a neighbour, is leaning on a garden wall with his arms folded look straight at you and saying: “I suppose you know you’re doing that all wrong.”
That one small drawing from the 1940s communicates a whole doctorate of study on the British character. I can see elements of this in the way the debate is going in the run-up to the referendum on UK membership of the EU. It’s coming more from the Leave camp than the Remain camp but it’s there nevertheless. Maybe in our public conversations we need to find a better way to persuade people rather than saying to them bluntly: “I suppose you know you’re completely wrong.”