Cameron, Johnson and the Misguided Path
When historians revisit Britain’s fall from continental grace, one moment will stand above all: David Cameron’s reckless decision to call a referendum on membership of the European Union. It was a political gamble to pacify his own backbenchers, not a statesmanlike decision in the national interest. With a single act of short-sighted bravado, Lord Cameron set the stage for division, economic stagnation, and Britain’s long slide into isolation.
Boris Johnson then compounded the mistake. Once seen as a liberal-minded figure of cosmopolitan London, he chose to back Brexit, not because it was right for the British people, but because it served his personal ambition. The “wrong side” won not through reasoned debate, but through shallow slogans and a deliberate blindness to the costs of severing ties with our neighbours. The British people deserved better; instead, they were delivered chaos dressed up as sovereignty.
Contrast this with the Netherlands, a nation that has long understood the power of diplomacy. Dutch politics may be fragmented, but their leaders know how to balance domestic voices while maintaining strong international partnerships. Theirs is a model of pragmatism, negotiation, and bridge-building – exactly the qualities Britain abandoned.
Meanwhile, Germany and France have only deepened their strength and unity. They anchor Europe with a steady hand, ensuring stability, continuity, and the shared progress of the Union. Whatever their internal disputes, Berlin and Paris move as one when Europe’s future is at stake. It is this dual engine that Britain once influenced, but now only watches from the sidelines.
Brexit was not the will of the people but the consequence of poor leadership. Cameron gave the country a false choice; Johnson chose the wrong side. And Britain is left weaker, lonelier, and searching for a role in a world it once helped to shape.
God Save the King – and may God give Britain the courage to rediscover its place in Europe before it is too late.