Patrick O’Flynn Patrick O’Flynn

Guy Verhofstadt is a good advert for Brexit

Guy Verhofstadt (Credit: Getty images)

During the run-up to the referendum, some ardent Remainers attempted to brand the EU as a Great European Peace Project. Chuka Umunna, the former Labour MP turned investment banker, pushed this line in a radio debate I took part in with him. I made the usual pro-Leave point about Nato being the key international body guaranteeing peace in Europe, but conceded that Germany and France having a joint political project to focus on may have made a useful additional contribution. This enabled the additional point to be aired that the idea they would start a war against each other should the UK leave the EU was preposterous. Being a generally reasonable fellow, Umunna conceded as much and the debate moved on to other areas.

Other than when David Cameron appeared to suggest in the campaign proper that Britain’s departure might hasten the onset of World War Three and was roundly mocked as a result, this aspect of the Brexit argument never really took centre stage.

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