Happy in Cyprus wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2017 4:14 pm
Rather than rubbish the article out of hand, I'd be interested to know from Brexiteers what specific observations made by Alessio Colonnelli they believe to be flawed.
Happy to oblige, Lloyd...
Alessio Colonnelli wrote:
I believe Britons will come to regret choosing to exit the EU – and here are the three reasons why.
1. The UK’s relationship with the US is no replacement for its membership of the EU
The UK's special relationship with the US has nothing whatsoever to do with Brexit, nor is it meant to be a replacement for membership of the EU. This premise is simply pointless and should be ignored. He goes on to ask who we as a 'junior partner' we would turn to if we disagreed with American policy. In the same vein he also asks how we would deal with Russia or China. Does this journalist not understand that we are equal members with the US, Russia and China in the UN Security Council with the power of veto? Or that we are an equal member with the US of the G7 group of nations? Or that along with the US we are equal members of NATO? What the author wants us to believe is that we have no power of our own, that we will become the lapdogs of the US and that we would have been far better remaining in the EU. Fat chance! How has the EU dealt with Russia? With sanctions which hurt EU members more than Russia. Brilliant!
Alessio Colonnelli wrote:
2. Second, if Britain is eagerly looking for a leading role anywhere in the world, then the best place for that is Europe...
As stated in my reply to point 1 above, we already have a leading role in the world, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with our current membership of the EU. As a member of the EU, we are one of 28 countries - each with a single vote and in some cases each with the power of veto. Yet we are a country of 68 million people and there are 13 EU nations which, if their populations were combined together, they would comprise less than 65 million people. That is not democracy!
Alessio Colonnelli wrote:
3. The concept of a “global Britain” after Brexit is being looked at very sceptically within the Commonwealth.
This is pure conjecture on the journalist's part and is all based on what he believes is Britains image abroad. He uses such terms as Britain's 'inflated ego', it's 'old prejudices' it's 'weakness on the world stage' and it's 'arrogance'. Actually, I find it arrogant that this journalist thinks that we are interested in what he thinks of Britain's future after Brexit. He has proven to me that he would make more money writing children's fiction - he seems to have made a good start with this article.