Sir George Young: Some thoughts on the No votes

Sir George Young, Member of Parliament for North West Hampshire, takes a reasoned look at where to go from here as far as the EU is concerned.

From midway down in his article, there's this (use title link to read the entire piece):

Whatever the Dutch and the French had done, I believe the referendum in the UK would have produced a thumping majority for the "no" campaign. So at least we now have some allies who will join us in renegotiating the Treaty. How should we do it?

This is not easy; the French rejected the Treaty because it made too many concessions to the so-called Anglo-American economic model. The UK would have rejected it because it entrenched the cosier more protectionist Franco-German view of life. The more you make concessions to the one, the more difficult it becomes for the other.

I think we should rewind the tape to the mid 1990's - when public opinion in this country began to become more hostile. We should keep as members those countries which have recently joined the EU - it is in every one's interest that democracy and prosperity should spread eastwards - and then start from a series of Lowest Common Denominators.

What are the features of the EU that most people in this country feel comfortable with? A free trading area with no tariff barriers, in which Governments cannot prop up failing industries with state subsidies. Certainly. A common currency which countries are free to join if they want to - and which they can withdraw from if they find the going too tough. No harm in that. Free movement of labour so that skills go to the areas where they are most needed? OK with me. Some quick and impartial means of resolving disputes, for example if the French start subsidising their national airline or introduce non-tariff barriers ? Yes, otherwise you won't get your free trade - the UK has nothing to fear from that...

All right, we've had our giggles over the "No" votes, particularly in France. But maybe it's a good idea to back off a little (at least publicly) and let folks like Sir George look for the best ways to deal with the openings that have been created by those votes?