Ed West Ed West

Is it possible to be both pro-EU and patriotic?

It’s safe to say that last week was a good one for the Remain camp, thanks in large part to the endorsement from President Barack Obama. Despite what people in online conservative echo chambers may believe, Obama remains fairly popular in Britain and his opposition to Brexit may well count for something.

His tactic was to play on our fear of what might happen if we leave. And while leaving the EU is seen as a largely small-c conservative idea, favoured by older and less educated voters, it is paradoxically fear (that most conservative of emotions) which is driving support for Remain.

A small number of us are more frightened by the medium and long-term consequences of an unstable super-state, as they have usually ended badly in the past.

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