The future of Europe - EU must walk the walk of democracy

ONE of the valid accusations made by those who wanted Britain to quit the EU before last Thursday’s epoch-defining vote was that the union had become far less democratic than is necessary to sustain a union of almost 30 countries, big or small, affluent or less so. 

Government by faceless, unaccountable bureaucrats, ran the charge — one that is not as easy to refute as it should be. It rang only too true and was a decisive factor in influencing secession.

The accusation will stand again if another challenge to European solidarity follows on the heels of Britain’s over-and-out vote.