Remainers Talisman Affection For The Single / Union

I’ve tried hard to find any evidence that shows why Nick Clegg, Sir John Major, Tony Blair, Nicola Sturgeon, et al., believe that being in the single market is so important. Indeed, their belief is so strong they are prepared to break the union up. Yet they provide no supporting evidence as to why they believe it!.

Even representatives of our business community race to support our membership, yet they too are incapable of providing data to support their claims. Their only reason is we export a lot to Europe as though this will die after we leave. This is rubbish it would be a serious act of sabotage on the EU part if they stopped selling their cars, cheese, wine etc., into the UK. Only a petulant child would harm themselves in such a way.

Indeed, there is plenty of evidence out there that shows being a member of the single market has been exceedingly negative to the UK. I’ve said before WTO countries exports to the EU have grown significantly more than the UK exports to the EU.

Sure the single market in some areas has been a success, it has united 28 Countries into a single trading block. Margaret Thatcher pushed through the idea of a single market on the basis that it would unite and reduce regulation. If you look at the Cecchini report produced in 1988 it was incredibly optimistic about the single market, Predicting a 6.5% - 7% GDP increase over the first 5years.

Cecchini report - exert from the exec summary 1988 The Commission today revealed the results of a major study which It commissioned to

evaluate scientifically the benefits of the single market. This study which will shortly be published In book form provides the hard evidence, the confirmation of what those who are engaged In building Europe have always known: that the failure to achieve a single market has been costing European Industry dearly In unnecessary costs and lost opportunities; that the completion of the Internal market will provide the economic context for the regeneration of European Industry In both goods and services; and that It will give a permanent boost to the prosperity of the people of Europe. Cecchini report 1988

Even its ardent supporters had to admit it was overly optimistic. In fact all data shows that being a member of both the single market and customs union have provided the UK with a net loss. Yet scraggly politicians and business organizations all espouse sagely that we must continue our membership. My only conclusion they really don’t understand the market at all.

In fact to go one step further:

Roger Bootle has likened their fascination, talisman type reverence to the single market like that of the dying days of the soviet empire.

“Muttering support for the Single Market has become rather like, during the dying years of the Soviet Union, mouthing ritualistic quotes from Marx about the inevitable triumph of Communism - things you just repeat because that’s what you have always done and it’s what everybody else does, without ever questioning their relation to reality”.