THE last time Europe was a superstate as one entity was during the Roman empire and it lasted around 500 years, collapsing in 476AD.

This superstate was kept together by force, with the emperor imposing his will and edicts with the might of the Roman army, itself composed of many nonRoman citizens who decided that life would be better under a foreign power than under the authority of their local king.

This army imposed taxes on the local population, draining the client countries of resources and funds.

This sounds like our current situation, except for the fortunate fact that our submission under a European superstate, although aided and abetted similarly by those who thought that life would be better under foreign domination and betrayed their country, has lasted 47 years too long, but that at least is one tenth of the time the Roman empire lasted.

This European superstate will itself no doubt collapse in time, and similarly to 1,500 years ago, will do so because their funding base will collapse.

We are therefore well out of the melee that will follow with every country grabbing what it can.

The history of what followed the Roman Empire does not bode well, but it does not mean that it wasn’t right to leave while we could.

In fact, it may well be that in 100 years time, European states will come begging to us for support, and this time we will be able to dictate the terms on which we will do business with them.

Roger Clarke, by email