I consider an en route only rating to be substantially inferior (less useful and less safe) than the IMC Rating and not a satisfactory compromise. Dare I say it: I'll bet my view is the majority one among UK PPLs.
Of course you may say it. No-one was claiming the EIR is superior or safer. I was just disagreeing with the more extreme chocolate teapot/fantasy/danger opinion.
I'm appalled at the thought that UK representatives might consider en route IMCR acceptable as an alternative, and I hope this is not the case.
No-one's saying it's "acceptable". My understanding is that FCL008 were asked to review sub-IR quals to apply to all EASA countries, and since none of them accepted the IMCr, the EIR was the best interim qualification they could design.
preserving the IMCR in the UK is a precondition for the UK
A "precondition" for what? Not leaving the EU in a huff? EASA's jurisdiction is already European law.
If other countries can have national ratings (e.g. altiport) then the UK can.
The Mountain rating is not a national rating - it is an EASA-wide rating. I don't know of any national ratings.