Britain and the EU

Britain has had a persistently controversial and, yes, rather unsatisfactory relationship with the EU.

She is probably one of the most reluctant members of the EU, so, it is not surprising that David Cameron's current attempts to 'renegotiate' Britain's relationship with it should be causing such an animated debate.

I have recently heard David Cameron outlined all the benefits he perceived Britain would get, if the EU accepts the terms of his demands for Britain continuing to be a member of this, what I would call , European empire.

The noticeable omission from the Prime Minister's announcement, was the absence of any comment on the the other members of the EU, and the EU itself, would gain from Britain continuing to be a member of this empire.  As he forcefully outlined all of these major gains for Britain - not being a member of Shengen, not being a member of the Euro, not being a member of ..... - I could not help but wonder how I would feel if I were say, a German or French national, and here the British Prime Minister going on ad infinitum about how the British would get this and that, but never any mention of what contribution they would make and how it could advance the objectives of the EU.

Of course, I agree with those who believe that the EU is a bureaucratic colossus which is badly in need of reform, in order to make it more accountable to and responsive to the wishes of the people of its constituent nations.  The EU's tendency towards being relentlessly expansionist and usurping national governments is clearly something which needs to be stopped and retracted.

So, the missing and one of the crucial elements of David Cameron's argument for Britain staying in the EU - and not voting to come out of it - is his failure to articulate how Britain's continued participation in the EU empire would be beneficial, not only to Britain, but to the EU and its principles and shared goals.