Better for Britain to carve out a new leadership role in the EU, not exit it

VOTERS in the UK referendum on June 23 are presented with two truly depressing alternatives: the first is "Brexit", which no friend or ally of Britain wants to see for it will bring massive economic and political uncertainties in its wake; the second is "Bremain" with the clear understanding that Britain will simply motor along in the slow lane of Europe, at least until the next exit opportunity presents itself.

Billions of people around the world are watching this referendum closely. There is a real sense that the outcome will have global economic and strategic consequences that go far beyond Britain and Brussels. It concerns all of us, not least Ireland, which has a very close relationship with the UK.

This is one of those issues where the study of history is most useful. Arguably, the European Union is the greatest multinational political project of all time, certainly of our time. Growing out of the ashes of World War II, the EU helped to keep the peace, to promote prosperity and to give hope to fellow Europeans trapped behind the Iron Curtain for 50 years.