Douglas Carswell

Europhile Little Englanders

How many times have we heard it from the Europhiles? Britain must be in the EU so that we can trade freely. The case for Britain's EU membership, say the fed heads, is built on trade and investment.

But then look at what they do in practice.

When an actual case of free investment comes along – Pfizer wanting to buy AstraZeneca – the Europhile mob suddenly go all protectionists.

Listening to MPs in the House of Commons debating the deal, I was struck that it wasn't we Better Off Outers demanding that Britain pull up the draw bridge. It was Vince Cable, Ed Miliband and Chuka Umunna.

"We have to protect British jobs" declare Europhiles who have spent decades telling us that they support the free movement of people. "We must not let R&D move abroad", screeched those that tell us we need open borders.

Last week we could see Europhiles for what they really are: economic nativists. British ownership, implied these little Englanders, must somehow be inherently superior for the UK economy.

Of course it is nationalist nonsense to believe that just become something is owed by British investors, rather than US, German or Indian ones, it will be better run. See the amazing success story that is Jaguar Landrover.

Europhiles talk free trade but act protectionist. Don't expect the BBC or the FT to point out this glaring corporatist inconsistency any time soon.

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which we are starting to hear so much about, is not really about free trade and investment at all. It is about giving people like Vince, Ed and Chuka more power to intervene and meddle in people's lives.

Next time you hear a politician telling you we need to be in the EU to benefit from a Transatlantic trade deal, ask them why they did not speak up in favour of free investment when it came to Pfizer?

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