However, don't forget in the early days of EEC membership we shat all over New Zealand and Australia.
We were forced to cut them off by quotas/tariffs which lost them us as a prime market for lamb & butter, whilst we began to pay through the nose for local (i.e. Eu) dairy produce & still do.
Why ?
The EEC is biassed towards & heavily protects French & German agricultural producers.
If we could really turn the clock back
there are plenty of English speaking countries we can recommence increased in/out trade with. Remember the Commonwealth is still a strong entity, we should be grateful for this aspect of our heritage
Removing at least one layer of EU beaurocacy would save UK billions and silly pan-Europe 'fit all but suit few' rulings needn't continue to erupt & trouble us.
I realise it's all pie in the sky; U.K Politicians are already doing their best to undermine D.C's achievement. You'd think we'd stick together & let the German/French entente go it's own way.
Gradually & carefully we could learn to rule ourselves again. Somewhere down the line but perhaps too late now the EASA expense could be dropped too. We might find the FAA system more comprehensive and practical to ally ourselves with. At least it's written in English as its first language !
mike hallam.