Britain's continuing membership of the Community would mean the end of Britain as a completely self-governing nation

Britain's continuing membership of the Community would mean the end of Britain as a completely self-governing nation

Tony Benn, a prominent British politician and staunch advocate for democratic socialism, was a vocal critic of Britain's membership in the European Community, now known as the European Union. He believed that continued membership in the Community would ultimately lead to the end of Britain as a completely self-governing nation.

Benn argued that the European Community, with its supranational institutions and decision-making processes, would erode the sovereignty of the British Parliament and undermine the ability of the British people to govern themselves. He believed that the Community's policies and regulations would limit the ability of the British government to make decisions in the best interests of its citizens, as they would be subject to approval by unelected bureaucrats in Brussels.

Furthermore, Benn was concerned about the impact of the Community's economic policies on British workers and industries. He believed that the Community's emphasis on free trade and competition would lead to job losses and the erosion of workers' rights in Britain. Benn feared that British industries would be unable to compete with their European counterparts, leading to a decline in economic prosperity and a loss of control over the country's economic destiny.

Benn also raised concerns about the impact of the Community's common agricultural policy on British farmers. He believed that the policy favored large agribusinesses over small family farms, leading to the consolidation of land and the displacement of traditional farming practices. Benn argued that this would not only harm British farmers but also threaten the country's food security and self-sufficiency.