The influence argument

The argument British European federalists most often use to justify their case is that we can only have influence in Europe if we first demonstrate that we are committed to the federal end-goal. They acknowledge that we have lost every argument that we have ever had but put that down to our timidity rather than Franco-German opposition. The implication is that everything will be fine "when we are married".

One might counter by pointing that in real life things are rarely so fine after the ceremony but my real bug bear here is the argument about influence. Because I think Britain would have far more influence on the EU if she withdrew.

Just imagine it. Britain withdraws, the EU embarks on a headlong dash for socialism now and within half a generation has got trapped in a morass of regulation, recession, unemployment and unrest. Meanwhile, plucky Britain has just sailed on much as ever. At which point our example starts to have enormous influence. At which point EU countries start to introduce precisely the sort of liberalising measures we have long been calling for.

There's more than one way to influence people.