We’re currently one of the most powerful members of a gang which protects its members. If we quit the EU, bigger powers will tell us what to do. Donald Trump’s state visit rams this home – and we haven’t even left.
Look at the Huawei saga. First, Theresa May decided we may have to buy its telecoms kit despite concerns that China might then spy on us. The US president suggested on the eve of his visit that, if we do buy Huawei products, he won’t share some intelligence with us. He didn’t repeat that today, saying rather it wouldn’t be a problem because the US and UK would reach an agreement on what to do with Huawei.
We are at risk of being bullied first by Beijing and then by Trump. On the other hand, if we stay in the EU, we’ll be strong enough to decide whether to buy the kit on the basis of what’s in our interests.
The EU is the largest economic bloc in the world. It can’t be bullied on commercial matters. And its members can’t be bullied either – because it operates as a single force.
Don’t believe Trump’s hogwash today about how we can have a “very, very substantial trade deal” with America if we quit the EU. The only deal we may be able to do is one on his terms – probably importing chlorine-washed chicken and throwing open our health service to competition. Trump confirmed that the NHS would be “on the table” in trade talks.
What’s more, if we crash out of the EU without a deal, something Trump thinks we should threaten, we could undermine the peace process in Ireland and the US Congress would then refuse to ratify any trade pact with America. By contrast, if we stay in the EU, we will collectively have the clout to get a good deal with the US.
The EU is working increasingly closely on political matters too. It imposed sanctions on Russia after it annexed Crimea. No single country would have had the guts to stand up to Vladimir Putin; but as a bloc, the EU was courageous enough to do so.
If there were no bullies in the world – or if the World Trade Organisation could ensure fair play in trade and the United Nations could keep the peace – we wouldn’t need the EU. But we live in a dangerous world, and the WTO and UN are weak bodies, in part because Trump has been undermining them.
The EU is the strongest supranational organisation on the planet. It is built on values we share: freedom, the rule of law, democracy, equality, non-discrimination and respect for human rights. It also looks after its members.
You can see this with Brexit. How can Ireland, whose population is 5 million, stand up to the UK, its former imperial power which has a population of 66 million? Because the other 26 EU nations have a combined population of 440 million.
If we leave this bloc, we won’t just be bullied by Trump, China and Putin. We may end up being bullied by the EU too.
If we want to defend our values and interests – and stand tall in the world – the patriotic choice is to stop Brexit and stay in the EU.