At Last Some Vision

While I was in the gym this morning I watched the rolling news while I strained on the cross trainer. There at last I saw somebody intervene in the election with a vision. Yes it was Tony Blair who spoke eloquently concerning Europe. He articulated why we are a European country, the benefits of being a European power and the dangers of holding a referendum.

The unfortunate reality is that because Tony Blair is branded by the decision to participate in the war on Iraq, the fact that that he is an original thinker and the most experienced politician in the UK is ignored. However he makes the case for Europe more eloquently than any other UK politician.

While he makes an effective case, much of what is published and broadcast against the EU is either lies or exaggeration. There is no effective rebuttal of the propaganda, so on the farcical front we get tales of the EU demanding that we have square bananas. The argument over immigration is completely racist and one sided. So there is anger at Polish people coming to the UK, while the mass immigration of the French is absolutely ignored. There is also deathly silence over the British migration to the EU. Maybe the Spanish would like some contribution for all the pensioners who live on the Costa Del Sol. We complain about benefits paid to immigrants while we pay pensioners living in Spain a winter fuel allowance. Complete double standards.

It is difficult to think of the chaos that will ensue with a two-year referendum campaign up to 2017. How international companies will react when making investment decisions. The idea that the other nations will be eager to renegotiate Britain’s membership is also laughable.

So it is great to hear a well-argued, visionary speech making the case for continuing membership of the EU. It is also great to hear an election speech that is not simply a who will cut your taxes by most, bravo!