John Major made a powerful speech in Germany yesterday, directed at European policy makers. He pleaded for some support for the UK, which finds itself the number one destination for EU migrants to the point where the public perception is that too many are arriving for the services and communities to cope. He pointed up the very real risk that the UK will leave if its pleas are ignored. Is that what Europe wants? No it isn’t. But, and this is a BUT, Europe has decided that the UK cannot be a spoiler and if it demands too much then it’s bye-bye.
Is that what the UK wants? Well England very well might, but not Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. England’s population outvotes everyone else, so if England votes to go with a decent majority, the UK is off. That will be the last thing the UK ever does, because for certain it will then break up. Scotland will hold another referendum and leave for sure. The EU, having lost England will welcome Scotland on board. This will leave Wales and Northern Ireland outside the EU from which they gain great benefit, while Ireland and Scotland will be in. No guesses how their minds will tick or where they will seek to go.
So England will be on its own. On the threshold of a new Golden Age? Or up a creek without a paddle?