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Finished @kevinhorourke 's Short History of Brexit - an excellent summary tour of the very seeds of Brexit (from 1950) through to the (almost) present day:
• The victories of federalism over intergovernmentalism from 1950 onwards
• Churchill's early cakeism
• The victories of federalism over intergovernmentalism from 1950 onwards
• Churchill's early cakeism
• Trying to hold back the incoming supranational tide with the creation of 'free trade' EFTA.
• Macmillan facing the "grim choice" in 1960 (at EFTA's birth) between Britain's imperial preferences and Europe. A grim choice that has stoked & defined euroscepticism ever since.
• Macmillan facing the "grim choice" in 1960 (at EFTA's birth) between Britain's imperial preferences and Europe. A grim choice that has stoked & defined euroscepticism ever since.
• De Gaulle's famous "Non" to British accession despite the Brits potentially providing a counter-balance to Germany; perhaps even an Anglo-French 'motor', which Monnet was not averse to.
• 1973 accession; 1975 referendum and its place in (very sceptical) Lab party politics.
• 1973 accession; 1975 referendum and its place in (very sceptical) Lab party politics.
• Thatcher's Fontainebleu victory on the rebate and its setting of the scene for the Single European Act (bringing about the Single Market).
• The 1988 watershed and Bruges.
• ERM and Maastricht (euroscepticism reignited).
• And so on, through to the backstop.
Recommended.
• The 1988 watershed and Bruges.
• ERM and Maastricht (euroscepticism reignited).
• And so on, through to the backstop.
Recommended.
As is customary for English people, I forgot Ireland and its history and role throughout. All of which is well covered by @kevinhorourke
Continuing thread....
Chapter 1, page 1 of @kevinhorourke's book 'A Short History of Brexit' captures why Brexitism exists.
Chapter 1, page 1 of @kevinhorourke's book 'A Short History of Brexit' captures why Brexitism exists.
There is also a passage on how the British view of World War 2 is so Britain-centric.
Also covers the three interlinked circles of British power. IMHO this is one of the better Remainer arguments that one rarely hears. The Commonwealth and English-speaking world are 'just there', whereas the European dimension requires an opt-in.
If I had to pick one thing from the entire book, it is the Macmillan section, ably showing the UK's "grim choice" was made in 1960 in the EC's favour. The tectonic plates have moved that way ever since.
Changing direction now would be era-defining and would require care. It's clear no such care will be forthcoming. But worse, for good or ill, the "grim choice" made in 1960 has had 60 years to embed itself. With the greatest care in the world, it may be simply not worth it.
