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May 26, 2008

RE: Is Euroscepticism dead?

Q: "Is Euroscepticism dead?"  A:"No!  Manifestly not!"  We appear shortly to be going to elect the most Eurosceptic government since at least the period 1987-90, and probably ever.  In what sense does that make Euroscepticism "dead"?

I find much of the cynical posting about how Cameron is bound to just become a Europhile once he's in power or that he can't actually do anything plain absurd.  What makes you imagine that a Eurosceptic government couldn't deliver?  Since we joined the EU we have had the Europhilia of Heath, the Euroscepticism of Wilson (leading to a referendum), the brief chaos of Callaghan, the moderate Euroscepticism of Thatcher 1979-86 - which was very productive from the British point of view, delivering us a rebate and the Single European Act - the more aggressive Euroscepticism of 1987-90 (which delayed movement towards political integration) - then the Europhile administrations of Major, Blair and Brown.

So, the two clearly Eurosceptic administrations we've had have delivered a referendum on Membership, a rebate to the UK and the Single European Act.  It seems to me that the idea that a Eurosceptic Cameron administration will be well-placed to deliver Eurosceptics much of what we want.  And I haven't seen anything other than self-indulgent nihilism on offer as a counter-opinion.

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