So in the end patriotism won through. In 1975 the mood of national defeatism was so strong that the British people succumbed to membership of the European Economic Community (as it was then called).
This decision has at last been reversed. The extraordinary defiance of this simple determination that we should govern ourselves has left me more proud of my country than ever before.
Heineken once advertised the claim that it “refreshes the parts other beers cannot reach”.
Everyone suddenly burst out singing;
I was filled with such delight
As prisoned birds must find in freedom,
Winging wildly across the white— Daniel Hannan (@DanielJHannan) June 24, 2016
The referendum reached parts of the electorate that politics normally doesn’t reach.
The turnout was 72 per cent – well up on the General Election last year when 66 per cent voted. But there was more to it than those stats imply.
Within the total were hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of people who voted for the first time for many years.
“We have a great opportunity to lead the world economically now we have made this decision”- @SteveHiltonx #Brexit pic.twitter.com/Yh7wfrTyKq
— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) June 24, 2016
Often they live on council estates, they felt alienated by “the system”. Those are the ones who tuned out long ago but yesterday they suddenly grasped that here was something worth participating in.
These are the people that the pundits and pollsters had missed.
Watching the faces of the BBC presenters during the results coverage was quite a sight to behold.
Nor was this just about the United Kingdom.
When I was campaigning locally I was struck by the number of times foreign radio and TV crews wanted to tag along. It became apparent that our little island was attracting wider interest during our deliberations.
Huge congratulations on our Independence Day!!! A superb result for the UK
— Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) June 24, 2016
There is now every prospect that Britain’s example will be followed.
The whole stinking monolith of the EU could come crashing down giving way to a prosperous and free Europe of nation states. Even before the British referendum there was an opinion poll showing most Dutch people would like to leave the EU.
Which other countries might leave? Denmark? Sweden? Even the French are not that keen on the EU anymore. A Pew Research survey found that 61 per cent were unfavourable to it.
If David Cameron had adopted a more measured tone as Prime Minister he could have emerged with his authority strengthened. After all he was the man who gave us the referendum – a brave and long overdue step to seek British consent for membership.
Just woke up. He resigned. A whole new world beckons.
— Tim Stanley (@timothy_stanley) June 24, 2016
As it is his decision to stand down is right. He has been a far more radical leader than is sometimes appreciated. I hope that his achievements – for instance in welfare reform and transforming education – will be recognised.
Now everyone will quickly speculate on who should take over. But the really important thing is that future Prime Ministers will really have the power to run the country.
No longer will they have the excuse that this or that isn’t possible due to some EU directive. Then we will have the chance to throw them out.
That is the precious democratic inheritance that our parents and grandparents had which we have recovered and can pass on to our children and grandchildren.
