We all know the Continentals are lost without pragmatic British leadership. The results of Brexit could not show the situation more keenly. They fumble about attempting to replace us as a market all because they are too reticent to ask to join the United Kingdom’s exploding single market.
Some would say we should punish our erstwhile friends and trading partners for their recalcitrance and stubbornness. This is tempting. Spare the rod and spoil the child is an old adage that comes to mind when considering how things have gone since the British reclaimed their sovereignty. The gentle, guiding hand we have shown since that wonderful moment does not seem to have pierced the woolly thinking of the EU council and its baffled President.
Of course there maybe more pressing concerns in the Home Counties than the fate of the EU’s prosecco, cheese and olive producers, but this doesn’t mean that we need to keep the door closed to businesses that provably need us more than we need them. You just have to look at the growing gaps on the shelves of British supermarkets to realise how terribly the EU’s food producers are missing us. I’d be surprised if they have the warehouse space to store what they’ve lost when they lost us.
Clearly there will have to be conditions imposed on the control freaks in Brussels when we bring them to heel, and allow them to sleep on the great British sofa. A period of probation and a steady eye on the boundaries that we set.
But be of no doubt that allowing the EU27 to join the UK’s single market will work out far better than when it was the other way around. This time we will be making all the rules and they will be following. Flammable kids toys and national flags are back. Meat of no determinable origin is again on the plate. Worries about tax havens are so yesterday. They will soon see the benefits of joining, now they’ve spent some time in the wilderness.
Of course the cherry on the cake will be permanent British occupation of the role of President of the new and robust union. Our sovereign will serve well enough for that. Thereafter all of Europe will be able to enjoy the benefits to tourism gained by having the British monarchy. This will be our way of saying “Welcome back” and yes, come on then, sell us your food again.
