This whole issue is irrelevant, superfluous and redundant. It is also completely uninformed, both here and elsewhere.
We can no more leave Europe, than you can recover your status as a virgin. Once you're in, you're in! Busta!
There was a strong argument for not joining in the first place, but join we did and now it is too late to unjoin!
Nearly all the other leaders and their lieutenants have told us in very strong terms that if we decide to leave, we could indeed enjoy similar status as Norway or Switzerland - i.e. not be members, but still signed up for the four basic freedoms (free movement of goods, capital, services and labour).
But they are all agreed that those freedoms are not up for qualification or redefinition.
Switzerland had a referendum on the free movement of labour. In 2014, they voted against this freedom to allow EU citizens to move to Switzerland. The EU told them that they are free to cancel their agreements with the EU, but then such things as the free movement of electrical supplies, as well as goods and services would also be in jeopardy.
And that is how things have stayed.
Politicians and other fools are always prepared to make foolish statements that are in direct conflict with economic reality or the laws of physics, but by the time we have realised that they were talking rubbish, they are long gone. As I studied both electrical engineering and economics, listening to any politician speak on almost any subject of material or economic importance, is like listening to a toddler trying to explain the moon and stars.
The information age began even before the telephone. It began when we learnt to build boats, ride horses and read and write. It began when we learnt to speak.
The result is what we have today - we can talk to anybody anywhere without any great expense or effort. I bought a garlic crusher directly from China for £1.30 and chatted to the CEO of a building company in Texas. I visited trade fairs in New York and Amsterdam and tried out equipment and chatted to people from Africa and South America. The World is deeply integrated and we cannot undo that level of integration.
BEFORE the two World Wars, there was already deep integration across Europe and that included the UK. Britain had deep ties to Germany, both socially and financially. We also speak slightly different versions of the same language! Despite all the destruction of those wars and the artificial hatred whipped up by those seeking power, all that integration just flooded back. Nothing had really changed.
Even if we decided to leave and all other countries wanted the UK to leave, the gathering pace of integration will continue. It is a totally pointless to rage against greater integration as it is for some pea-brained politician to think that we can send electricity from Iceland to Munich (Jules law!) or believe that there is a shortage of employment (the lump of labour fallacy!) We can no more halt greater integration, than we can unlearn the ability to speak.
Whether we like it or loath it, the EU is on the side of history. It is on the side of the inevitable. It's like the Hotel California - you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave!
