1.0Sgwrs Tei Bowhttps://www.clarkeroberts.co.uk/cyClarke Robertshttps://www.clarkeroberts.co.uk/cy/author/clarke-roberts/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="6VfgMx0Zi8"><a href="https://www.clarkeroberts.co.uk/cy/2016/02/22/better-off-together/">Better Off Together</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.clarkeroberts.co.uk/cy/2016/02/22/better-off-together/embed/#?secret=6VfgMx0Zi8" width="600" height="338" title="“Better Off Together” — Bow Tie Talks" data-secret="6VfgMx0Zi8" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://www.clarkeroberts.co.uk/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script>For those of you who know me or any of you who read this blog, you’ll probably have come to learn three things from my writings. The first is that I’m a theologian. The second is that I’m a Liberal Democrat. The third is that I’ve been playing the okey-kokey with Britain’s relationship with the European Union. The last piece I wrote explored the ideas I had that saw the case to remain in the European Union as idealism and the case to leave, as realism. Whilst I still maintain some of the things I wrote in that article after further consideration, I have come to the conclusion that to remain in the European Union is in fact the right choice for the UK to make. What’s Changed? I by no means accept the EU as it is. It is deeply undemocratic and as it currently stands, infringes somewhat on the power of the UK Parliament. Cameron’s reform deal, whilst derided by many, is a vision for what the EU can become. He is the first European leader to successfully renegotiate the terms of a country’s membership and I am completely convinced that, although his reforms could go much further, it is certainly a step in the right direction. What this has demonstrated is the opportunity and ability for EU leaders to achieve reform. I’ve also spent a lot of time researching the EU, a topic which by my own admission, I still do not claim to know vasts about. I’m not a politics graduate, I’m a theologian. My interest in politics has up until recently, been as merely an invested spectator keeping an eye on the political world from the comfort of my pyjamas. I do not have the years of knowledge and experience to call upon countless theoretical arguments for why the EU is a good or bad thing, nor am I an economist – if you don’t believe me, check my bank statements! I am not familiar with economic policies nor the ins and outs of complex trade agreements that seem to benefit/hinder Britain’s financial security. Like many people, I am making my decision on how to vote based on what is easily accessible to those who are not trained in the language of politics. From what I’ve come to learn, it seems clear that the European Union benefits the UK greatly, both financially and culturally. Voting to stay is to me, to most rational option. Here’s why: 1) Our Status and Influence One of the key arguments from either side of the campaign appears to be centered on the idea of the UK’s power, status and influence on the world stage. The Out campaign claim that Britain’s standing in the world will be greatly improved by leaving the EU, stating that faith in the UK’s historical political clout is something that many in the world still revere. I am extremely proud to be British. My flat and car are adorned with idols featuring the iconic Union Jack. I love […]