In response to an 'FT View' on 20th February, entitled 'Let the big arguments over Britain in Europe begin'
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1e39092e-d7c6-11e5-a72f-1e7744c66818.html#ixzz40ilvYvc5
“Now the national interest must prevail”
There is a typically 'Wolferian' pre-supposition in that sentence, not to mention the gentleman's favourite word - 'must'. Or maybe it is the 'Barberians' who are at the keyboard gate today.
Whatever...the purpose of the referendum is to decide what the national interest is...in this matter. For in a democracy, like it or not, the national interest is exactly what the majority of the people say it is. Framing it as a chance for the plebs to do what the writers of the FT think they 'must' is arrogant tosh, not to be confused with democracy.
"This is about nothing less than the prosperity and security of Britain and the country’s place in the world"
I think it's about much more than that. For me, it's a choice about the nature of government - its purpose, its size, its powers, its accountability and its transparency. Ultimately these factors are ruled by the first - its purpose. On that basis, speaking for myself, I do not want any further expansion in the growth or centralisation of governmental power. I will be voting to leave the governmental structure known as the EU. I will not be falling out with any of my French, German or Italian friends, cancelling any holiday arrangements, hanging a union jack outside my house or subscribing to the Daily Mail.
There will be a vote and a decision. Personally I celebrate that. There is no more fundamental choice for a people, than how they decide to govern themselves