One of the contradictions in the Euro-sceptics' case for British withdrawalfrom the eu concerns influence. To those who fret that a post-Brexit Britain would lack cloutin the new world order, they say it has the world's fifth- or sixth-biggest economy, a growing population, nuclear weapons and a seat on the UN Security Council. Yet they also insist that, although Britain is one of the eu's three biggest members, it has little influence in Brussels-and even what it has is declining. In reality Britain's presence in Brussels has made a huge difference. Butin numerical terms its cloutin the eu has indeed lessened because the club has got bigger (though it is worth noting that Britain strongly supported its enlargement). Owen Paterson, a Tory Eurosceptic MP, points out that when Britain joined the EEC in 1973 it had two commissioners out of 13,20% of the votes in the European Parliament and 17% of the votes in the Council of Ministers. Now it has one commissioner out of 28,9.5% of the votesin the parliament and 8% of those in the council (though favourable demographics may enhance its weightin future).
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