James Forsyth James Forsyth

Stay or leave, Europe is sinking anyway

Better to let it fall apart while still on board than get the blame for its demise, say Tory ministers

issue 30 January 2016

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[/audioplayer]As Tory ministers wrestle with their consciences before the EU referendum, an intriguing new argument for voting to stay has emerged. Rather conveniently, it resolves the conflict between principle and personal loyalty to David Cameron that several members of the Cabinet are wrestling with. It goes like this: the European Union is going to collapse in the next ten to 15 years. So, you can vote for Britain to stay in, safe in the knowledge that the EU will be gone within a generation.

Some ministers add another layer to this argument. They claim that Britain leaving would precipitate the demise of the European Union and it is not in our interest to be blamed for that. Better to stay and let the EU collapse of its own accord.

It is tempting to dismiss this as sophistry; simply a cover for doing what is politically expedient in the referendum and siding with the PM.

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