Trade is not – and never has been – the reason for the European Union’s existence

Britons voted to join the European Union in the mistaken belief that it would be little more than a Common Market, writes John Charmley. It has suited pro-European politicians to downplay the political motivation of the European project, and the result has been a debate that – depressingly – continues to revolve around economic data. These same politicians, he argues, have also blamed ‘Europe’ for their own inability to wield influence in the Commission and Parliament.