Alarming Drum: Britain’s European Dilemma

Peter Morgan

300 pages  £14.95/$29.90
9781845401078 (pbk)  2007

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Alarming Drum is a trenchant analysis of the UK’s past and present relationship with the European Union, together with a percipient scrutiny of global strategic prospects for the next half century. The economy dominates the investigation, but other components, such as projected military and demographic developments, are also covered. The central thesis is that European countries need treaties to extend the scale and scope of their actions in domains such as trade, defence and security, but the EU treaties actually in force are seriously misconceived. The pending referendum on the Constitution provides a timely opportunity to rethink our commitments.

Peter Morgan has lived and worked on the continent for much of his life. He was Marketing Director for IBM Europe and, as Director General of the Institute of Directors, was involved in the negotiations surrounding the Maastricht Treaty, EMU and the Social Chapter. He was one of the UK delegates to the Brussels-based European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), for which he was awarded an MBE in 2003.

Table of Contents and Introduction
 

  • 'This book is a mine of facts and data which are likely to be used by everyone writing or speaking about the EU for a long time to come.' John Mills, Eurofacts
  • "Alarming Drum is the product of intensive research and as such is a valuable resource for anyone who needs easy access to the facts. . . Recent events would justify a chapter entitled 'Told You So' in any future edition."  Matthew Attwood, The European Journal, September 2005
  • "An authoritative history and critique . . . characterised by a refreshing lack of hysteria."  This England
  • "An extensive, refreshingly independent critique of the EU's accumulating economic, legal and political disadvantages." David Ashton, England's Standard
  • "The taramasalata of EU studies: key seasoning for a feast." Lee Rotherham, Salisbury Review

    • Advance praise for Alarming Drum

    Peter Jay:
    “Peter Morgan shines a laser beam into the Euro-fog through which those who would betray Britain into the hands of a continental power seek to shroud their purposes.”
    Professor Patrick Minford, Cardiff Business School:
    “Peter Morgan has done a thorough and masterly job of analysing Britain’s relationship with the EU — political, legal and economic. His book is also a timely brief for the British people on the draft EU Constitution. It should be widely read.”
    (Lord) David Howell:
    “For those who want to see through and beyond the present blur of arguments and assertions about Britain’s role in Europe, and about shared European foreign policy, ‘Alarming Drum’ is the book to read. It shatters the myth that Britain is faced with a ‘take it or leave it’ choice in European affairs and shows with piercing accuracy where Britain’s best interests in the coming global order really lie.”
    Professor Tim Congdon, Lombard Street Research:
    “Peter Morgan has written a challenging and important analysis of the most fundamental issue in British politics today.”
    Rt. Hon. David Heathcoat-Amory MP:
    “This is an important book for all those who want to know how the European Union went wrong, how it fails to meet the challenges of the modern world, and what Britain can do about it.”
    Ruth Lea, Director, Centre for Policy Studies:
    “The debate on Britain’s membership of and relationship with the other member states of the EU is surely one that can only intensify. The more informed argument made available to support this all-important debate the better and I welcome ‘Alarming Drum’ as a very useful, timely and constructive contribution.”
    Professor Jeremy Black, University of Exeter:
    “A timely and thoughtful work that helpfully clarifies the failure of the government to grasp adequately the practice of national interest.”