Nick Cohen Nick Cohen

It’s a Eurosceptic fantasy that the ‘Anglosphere’ wants Brexit

No one does as much damage to a country as patriots who affect to love it the most. If you doubt me, ask yourself what is missing from the European debate. The virtue-signalling right flap their arms to semaphore their belief in restoring Britain’s greatness. Yet they do not answer an obvious question: if leaving the EU is in our interests, why do none of our allies want us to do it?

The original opponents of British entry to what was then the Common Market could point to Australia and New Zealand, who hated the idea of Britain turning its back on the EU. Even today, 40 years on, David Davis talks of Brexit as an ‘opportunity to renew our strong relationships with Commonwealth and Anglosphere countries.’

Yet he cannot point to a single Commonwealth country who agrees with him.

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