The British people will vote in a referendum this June to decide whether they want to remain part of the European Union. The decision will determine not only what type of country Britain wants to be but could have a crucial bearing on the future of the entire bloc as well as the survival of the UK as a unitary State.
Prime Minister David Cameron, trying once and for all to bring the rift over Europe within his Conservative Party to an end, has secured a good deal with his EU partners to redefine Britain’s membership of the EU. Brussels has managed to accommodate the UK’s demands while sticking to its core principles, and it is fair to say that the 27 other members – conscious of the importance of Britain remaining in the Union – did bend over backwards to ensure that Mr Cameron was given an agreement which he could sell to his electorate.
The main aspects of the accord include an ‘emergency brake’ on migrants’ in-work benefits for four years when there are exceptional levels of migration. Also, child benefit for children of EU migrants living overseas will now be paid at a rate based on the cost of living in their home country.
EU treaties will be amended so that references to an ever-closer union do not apply to the UK. And the UK will be able to enact ‘an emergency safeguard’ to protect the City of London, to stop UK firms being forced to relocate into Europe and to ensure British businesses do not face discrimination for being outside the eurozone.
The UK already has opt-outs from the euro, the Schengen Agreement and aspects of justice and home affairs, and this latest deal further defines Britain’s unique membership of the EU. Whatis needed now is a clear and well-thought-out campaign by the ‘Yes’ camp that explains in everyday simple language how the UK has benefitted from forming part of the UK, why it should remain within the bloc and how a ‘Brexit’ would be so damaging to Britain.
What is at stake in this referendum is the prosperity and security of Britain as well as its place in the world. Thousands of jobs depend on the UK having access to the single market; London is the financial capital of Europe precisely because Britain is in the EU. Indeed, it is ironic that London mayor Boris Johnson, who seems to have put his personal political ambitions above his country’s interests, has declared his support for the ‘No’ camp. EU membership has given Britain more security and a stronger voice on the international stage.
As former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine said, a ‘Brexit’ would be nothing but “a leap in the dark”. It would also destabilise the bloc at a very delicate time when Europe is facing a migrant crisis, a threat from the so-called Islamic State and a Russia that is pursuing a very aggressiveforeign policy.
It would severely diminish Britain’s global clout, make it less relevant to the US and would almost certainly lead to the break-up of the country – Scotland’s First Minister has already said that in the event of the UK voting to leave the EU against the wishes of Scottish voters, a new independence referendum would be held.
The ‘No’ camp offers nothing but uncertainty. A ‘Brexit’ would be bad for Britain, for the EU and for Malta – which would lose a valuable and important ally in Europe.
We strongly hope British voters see common sense and vote to remain part of the EU. Too much is at stake.