Last night I prepped for the third episode of Uncommon Knowledge I’ll be shooting next week, a discussion of the proposed European constitution between Timothy Garton-Ash, who favors continued European integration, and Paul Johnson, who’s agin’ it. As I wrapped it up for the evening, it was the psychology of the European project that made me walk away puzzled.

For most countries, I can see it. I mean, I can understand why they’d want European integration, and I figure that if I were in their place I’d want it, too. France? A united Europe represents France’s last hope for exercising real influence in the world. Italy? The European project will enable it to achieve political and economic stability at last. Poland and Hungary? Protection from the Russians–that’s what they’re after. Germany? European integration offers a way of dissolving the German national identity into that of a larger, supranational entity and thus of escaping the burden of German history (you’d be surprised how many residents of Mitteleurope will already tell you they’re not German but European). Spain? An end to isolation.

But the United Kingdom? I just can’t figure it out. Why could it possibly wish to tie its fate to that of the continent? It long ago achieved political stability, and its economy is already the most vibrant in Europe. Its history is one to be proud of, not to shrink from, and it hasn’t suffered any real isolation since it became a leading sea power three centuries ago. Cut taxes, lower trade barriers, and let the British economy rip. That I can see. But hook up with the continent? Can anybody explain this to me? Ramesh? Jonah? Johns Derbyshire or O’Sullivan? Anybody?

“British integration within a European superstate is unacceptable to me,” Mrs. Thatcher said in a in a 2000 speech I just came across, “because it means the loss of our freedom, of our independence, and ultimately of our very identity.”

I’m with the Lady.

Why isn’t Tony Blair?