Yesterday in Rome the EU celebrated its 60th anniversary, and it behoves a friend and neighbour to say “happy birthday”. But there are good reasons why the UK voted for Brexit, reasons that became apparent during the ceremonies. Donald Tusk said: “Only a united Europe can be a sovereign Europe.” Britain wants no part of a sovereign Europe, so we are right to leave the EU.

The EU began with the best of intentions. Most Britons who voted to remain in the Common Market in 1975 did so in the belief that it was a free trade area that would promote peace on a divided continent. Since then, however, the project has grown out of proportion. At the same time as Britain has moved towards deregulation, lower taxes, exploiting emerging markets overseas and the devolution of power at home, the EU has crept towards a fossilised unitary state.

Europe has so often been the author of its woes. The euro has helped ruin economies. A complex, contradictory approach towards immigration has made it doubly difficult to handle the refugee crisis. It is far too resistant to free trade.