The appropriately named ‘BSE’ campaign – Britain Stronger in Europe – is propagating myths that only a mad cow would believe.
Laughable claims have been placed centre-stage on their website; suggestions that Britain would have a stronger economy, stronger leadership and stronger security by remaining in the EU. One wonders if any of these europhiles have ever read an EU treaty …
Economy
When it comes to economics, the facts are that companies and people trade, the British government largely does not. And companies and people will continue to purchase, sell and generally engage in all-round trade after Britain has left the EU.
In fact, these companies, outside of the EU, will operate without the huge regulatory burden from Brussels; they will be more competitive, able to trade internationally, and be producing goods at competitive prices. All benefits from leaving black-hole Europe.
Greece is the ultimate example of how damaging the EU can be. Saddled with immense debts, Greece cannot devalue its currency and regain competitiveness, but is left with its democratically elected government hostage to international financiers, EU politicians and German voters. That’s EU democracy and economic security for you.
Leadership
Successive EU treaties have removed veto powers and reduced Britain’s ability to block legislation it does not want. Even for Brussels-loving Cameron, it’s been too much – hence the half-hearted negotiations he’s conducted.
Yet BSE claim that losing vetoes – losing power and influence – actually increases Britain’s ability to lead!
Let’s look at the consolidated Treaty on European Union. Article 24 ends Britain’s independent foreign policy, requiring that “…Member States shall support the Union’s external and security policy actively and unreservedly…” Article 42 demands Britain “…make civilian and military capabilities available to the Union…”, subjugating any national wishes to Brussels’ prerogative.
Article 29 is most succinct: “Member States shall ensure that their national policies conform to the Union’s positions.” In such conditions, leadership is impossible.
In other words, Britain is already bound by the European Union from doing anything that is against the ‘interests’ of the EU. If actions by Britain harm German trade interests, Britain cannot act. And our Security Council position at the United Nations is compromised by Article 34, which requires Britain to vacate our seat for the EU High Representative on issues where there is a clear EU position.
This shows just how little the BSE campaign really knows.
Security
The final ridiculous claim is that Britain’s security will be improved. Unable to stop any migrants holding European passports, the UK lies vulnerable and exposed. Forced to engage in EU-wide military spending projects to boost political prestige while jeopardising American links, the UK government’s duty to protect British citizens is daily compromised.
The European Arrest Warrant – which BSE actually claims is good – has been lambasted by both rights groups as well as backbench MPs. Because of the EU, Britain struggles to remove violent criminals, while British terrorists who have gone to fight abroad cannot have their citizenship removed because of rulings by the EU Court of Justice. Meanwhile, a study by MEPs shows £11.5 billion of EU aid money going astray, which means at least some of it is landing in the hands of ISIS and other terrorist threats.
As Margaret Thatcher noted, an EU without Britain is an EU in which France and Germany must pay for all the aid, subventions and hand-outs. It is an EU in which French and German firms must pay higher taxes and struggle under regulatory burdens. Britain would be freed from taking our hard-won income and having to hand it over to Brussels to be lost in badly-audited eastern European economies.
