Delors' Federalist Vision Drove British Resistance and Ultimately UK's EU Exit
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Jacques Delors' vision for a politically integrated European Union helped trigger the growth of British Euroscepticism in the late 1980s, including the formation of campaigns opposing further EU integration.
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Delors aimed to turn the EU into a single country with trappings like a flag, anthem, passport, etc. His federalist vision was shared by other European leaders at the time.
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Delors' proposals particularly antagonized Margaret Thatcher, leading to her downfall over her opposition to the single currency. This event propelled the author into politics.
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The single currency made monetary policy undemocratic and invulnerable, locking EU integration in place. Britain's EU membership was always anomalous as a global maritime trader.
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Losing Britain enables the EU to pursue Delors' federalist vision unimpeded. A UK departure may have been quietly welcomed by EU figures as furthering the goal of political union.