Cameron to carve a European illusion

Once there was an island - a citadel of committed democracy that in combination with the tiny islands of Malta held out against a fascist empire stretching from the Iberian peninsula to Poland. It could expect no assistance from a Soviet Union whose leaders had sold out to Hitlerism in the drafting of a non aggression pact. America lived in splendid isolation as one European nation after another collapsed. Britain held out because its people said no to their own fascists - confronting them in the streets of London, and forcing the Government to take action against a rising fascism so many of the upper class had tacitly supported.
But that heroic Britain belongs to the past (Cameron to carve a European illusion, January 10). It is now indissolubly linked to the European mainland. Much of its population now permanently lives outside of their old homeland as they seek to create a new home, sharing the dream of a united Europe. Mostly they seek stability , moderate prosperity, and above all peace.
The old Tories still largely cling to the decrepit policies of divide and rule, part of any Tory leaders inheritance - the belief that Britain, with its entrenched class system, can never be secure if one power dominates Europe, if the Continent were ruled by but one Government. Multitudes have decided otherwise, voting with their feet - exiting to new homes and businesses throughout Europe, becoming part of communities that once seemed so “foreign”
Retreat is just a dream of an old guard that will soon pass on. It can be used to stir up “Europhobia” in times when bad Government and a discredited economic theory fail to provide for the people, for even the British are not entirely immune from the induction of mass hysteria. But whatever particular bandwagon a Tory leader may seek to jump on the reality remains that that the island seat of Empire is no more. The isolated citadel of freedom is part of a greater whole, a common purpose, a progress towards unity that can be delayed, obstructed but not halted, a new dream.