Monday memo #4: Brexit

Each day The Browser recommends five or six of the best pieces of writing that we can find anywhere online. The more diverse the better.

The Monday Memo reverses that approach. It brings together four pieces of outstanding writing with a common theme.

Today: Brexit

If there is a particular theme that you would like us to address in a coming Memo, please reply to this email.
Brexit: The UK And Europe (https://thebrowser.com/articles/brexit-uk-europe)
Alex Barker & George Parker | Financial Times | 21st May 2015

Britain's new Conservative government prepares for a promised referendum on UK membership of the European Union, probably next year. David Cameron may well secure most of the concessions that he wants from the EU as the price of supporting continued membership. But even then, the vote could go either way; and a British success could incite more EU countries to demand special treatment (1,560 words)
Britain’s Role In Europe Is To Be A Pain (http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-08-17/britain-s-role-in-europe-is-to-be-a-pain)
Clive Crook | Bloomberg View | 17th August 2014

Probably, Scotland should secede from Britain. "The advantages of self-government outweigh the drawbacks of being a small state". But Britain should not leave the EU, because it has an effective strategy there: Be a pain. Block integration. When integration can't be blocked, get an opt-out, as with the euro. Eventually other countries may tire of this and bribe Britain to leave; that's fine too (960 words)
The Best Europe We Have Ever Had (http://www.newstatesman.com/2014/01/the-best-europe-we-have-ever-had)
Robert Cooper | New Statesman | 16th January 2014

Britain is "drifting" towards a referendum on leaving the European Union. A referendum would a bad thing in itself, a surrender to populism; Britain is meant to be a representative democracy in which Parliament decides national issues. A referendum vote against EU membership would be disastrous. "This is the best Europe we have ever had; and Britain, as an influential member, has been a force for good in it" (2,000 words)
A Radical New Deal For Britain And Europe (http://www.thecommentator.com/article/402/a_radical_new_deal_for_britain_and_europe_what_if_this_really_happened)
Charles Crawford | Commentator | 31st August 2011

Wonderful, imaginary version of the speech David Cameron would never give on Europe. "Europe used to export its wars. Now it exports its incompetence. The time has come to redefine the UK’s relationship with the European Union"

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