It’s not just the UK that will benefit from Brexit. The EU will too

In two years’ time the EU will be able to pursue its aims without having to drag a reluctant UK along with it

The commencement of Brexit negotiations this week is good news for the UK and the EU. It is in the interests of both parties to agree a great new relationship. After all those years of the UK dragging its heels, refusing to join in, seeking to delay progress to political union and declining to be part of the euro, we can at last sort out a strong and positive relationship that works for us both. Th

Under Conservative, Labour and coalition governments the UK was never willing to accept all the moves to union or all the requirements of the EU. We kept our difficult relationship going with a series of opt-outs from the currency, the borders, from full freedom of movement, from defence union and from parts of the foreign policy and criminal justice arrangements. This held up the EU’s wish to complete its union and caused ill feelings about the UK as the reluctant European.