Original idea of EU as economic union is worth keeping

THE UK Parliament has endorsed the decision to apply to leave the European Union (EU). So, come spring, wheels will start to turn, with a 24-month deadline. The indications are that the UK will go for a "hard" line, meaning a total break and the repeal of all EU-directed laws, leaving the country alone, with deals to be brokered. No Common Market and, as yet, no deals with the rest of the world.

Internally, Brexit has destroyed the old political order. It used to be that the Conservative party hung itself on relations with Europe. Currently, with one notable exception, it is united, though the progress of exit talks will no doubt raise divisions. The Labour party is in disarray, with resignations from the Front Bench almost daily. It is about to lose two "safe" seats, probably to UKIP (the main Brexit party). The only other significant opposition in England, the Liberal Democrats, are trying to recover from being annihilated at the last General Election. Indeed, the most potent voice against Brexit is the Scottish Nationalist Party, which is the third-largest party in Parliament.

In 2019, the UK will cease to be a member of the EU and may, or may not, have serious links with that bloc. Most of the discussion about this centres on the negative outcomes. But few pundits talk about the possibility that the EU will no longer exist at that time.