English: Mayor of London, Boris Johnson poses for a photo prior to ringing the opening bell at NASDAQ on September 14, 2009. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This is a must read article from London Mayor, Boris Johnson writing in his column in the Telegraph. Check it out!
We must be ready to leave the EU if we don’t get what we want – Telegraph.
I commend Boris Johnson for his approach to “blowing away the myths” and giving people the facts. I have previously argued on this blog for all the options both for and against to be presented simply, fairly and openly; I have also argued for the policy options to be properly costed and independently risk assessed.
Given that Europe is committed to increasing federalism and bureaucracy, I agree with Boris Johnson that we must be ready to leave if we don’t get what we want. Personally, I struggle to see David Cameron able to make much progress; so for that reason I think that the UK should have an early referendum.
As a committed European but anti federalism and anti-bureaucracy, I am not ready to give up yet. I want to see all the arguments in a proper public debate.
What do you think?
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Dr Alf's Blog 
Here I am entirely with you. Having tried to understand the rationale put by both sides of the economic arguments for staying in or pulling out, I conclude that nobody really knows. Even in, say, fifteen years time it will be impossible to look back and properly link whatever has happened in that time to our position in – or not in – the EU. I entirely agree that there is virtually no prospect of renegotiation producing anything worthwhile. I have argued elsewhere that Cameron would be in a stronger position if there was a prior referendum that showed that the people in the UK were committed to being a part of an EU that is obviously going down the federal route than he would be threatening to leave if we don’t get what we want. I would be interested to hear what others think about that.
Where I suspect we do not agree is that I am convinced that small is better than large, that savings to scale are more than wasted by wrong decisions taken by people too far from the point at which the decision is effective whereas I think you are more inclined to improving central control. However, that is a different argument to the one associated with a European Federation where we are in full agreement.
My problem with the EU is that it has been driven for at least forty years by people who are totally committed to political and fiscal union – a federation – and I fear that the only way we shall be able to have a good working relationship with the rest of Europe is to start again – and that means an end to the EU as it is presently organised and I cannot see that coming about in a planned and orderly fashion.
Rodney,
I agree with most of what you write here. However, let me clarify that I do not necessarily favor “large” over “small” and certainly do not favor large government.
My political views are available on my blog. Here is a link for your convenience:
https://dralfoldman.com/alf-on-politics/
Thanks
Alf