I know, it's hilarious how they want to be at the "centre of Europe" again. What? They have always been too special for that, and now, they're the laughing stock of Europe.
I think most of us who want to rejoin are perfectly aware that that's never coming back. We chopped it up, set it on fire, and pissed on the ashes. Against my wishes and those of half the country, but we did. So be it. But if a nebulous vision of reclaiming what we had can get people thinking about rejoining, I'll take it. Anything is better than the current disaster.
I'm sorry you were taken out against your will. I for one would welcome the UK back into the EU, but some reform would be required I think. I don't fancy a second brexit.
Thank you. Sadly, I suspect we're going to have to live in the wreckage for at least 20 or 30 years before that happens, but perhaps I'm unduly pessimistic. Still, if it will finally get the Little Englanders to give up on their poisonous dreams, at least some good will come out of it in the long run.
The reality when the UK rejoins will be similar to what it was before, just with less opt outs and special treatment. As one of the larger economies and populations they will have a larger say just by way of how the parliament works.
Painting it as a desire for empire is a bit silly.
It's a desire to matter, not necessarily the desire for empire. They want to be "the centre" of Europe.
They will never matter that much again. Their place as an empire and head of nations was a historical accident and they blew it, and now they're just one nation of many with nothing special to offer.
Why do you think they go so overboard with their monarch pageantry? They yearn for the old days.
"There are only two types of countries in Europe: small countries... and countries which are small but don't yet know that they are. " --Paul-Henri Spaak
Completely agree that there is a section of population which yearns for the old days. However that section of society is the one that voted to leave in the first place, so it's a bit of a false equivalence, but not totally invalid.
I think you're being a bit literal in your interpretation of "centre" here. Being one of the largest countries would give the UK a larger say over things, in Parliament, than smaller nations. Personally I'd say that would mean it's closer to the centre than it currently is, being very much on the outside.
That being said, this is also just what Heseltine is saying, and he's an old Tory who still defends what he did as part of Thatcher's government, so he'd be one of the last people I'd want to define the future of the UK in the EU.