But there is no question of Europe voting to send UK troops somewhere against our wishes. These developments are not threats to our identity, they are intensely in our national interest. The myth of an inexorable march forward of a more and more interventionist Europe is miles from the reality. Europe is cutting back on red tape and adopting a business-driven agenda. When I fist went to Brussels my opposition to social legislation meant being looked at as if I wanted to send boys up chimneys in the Victoria era.
Today keeping social costs down and a flexible labour market are the accepted watchwords.
These are the realities of Europe today. To talk of reverting to a mere free trade area is absurd. But some would go further. They demand abolition of the common foreign and agricultural policies and want to denude the European Court of effective power. There is not the slightest chance of our partners agreeing to that kind of agenda.