The Eurosceptic's Handbook

About this book

The Brexit debate that has taken hold of the country is one of the defining issues of our time. The outcome of the EU referendum in June will have ramifications that will be felt for generations to come. But the discussion is curiously one-sided. The polls show that the British people are fairly evenly split between those who would stay and those who would leave - and very few would give the present arrangement a ringing endorsement. Yet all the resources of government and big business have been thrown behind an information campaign designed to ensure the UK remains a member of the EU at all costs.The Eurosceptic's Handbook tries to help rebalance the debate, and arm those with doubts about the EU with the counter-arguments they need to make an objective judgement. Michael Burrage, whose previous Civitas publications have earned praise for overturning the received wisdom about the EU's supposed trade benefits, here takes a broader look at the pros and cons of EU membership.Standing back from the spin and hyperbole of Project Fear, Burrage surveys the evidence from Britain's involvement with Brussels since it joined the European Economic Community in 1973.He exposes the flaws in the arguments that have been made along the way for Britain's continued membership. He lays bare the costs - financial and democratic - to every UK citizen of sticking with the European project. And he explains why, if Britain votes to leave, it will have nothing to fear - and much to gain.--