Dave said today he didin't think we should ever join the Euro. So why support the project?

In today's PMQs Mr Cameron said he believes that the UK should never join the Euro. That means he believes we should never give up the pound and throw in our lot with the 'ever closer union' that is being pursued by the EU. I know he's been reported as saying this before, but it was an 'on the record' in Hansard and very public declaration today.

Extremely welcome it was too. But it does give rise to a fundamental question:

Given that the EU has publicly declared that its direction of travel is towards ever closer union and the establishment of a single state of Europe under EU control, with a single flag, anthem, army, government and financial apparatus (tax and pension laws etc), why would we want to carry on supporting this project financially if it is not something we would ever envisage joining?

And why would we want to give financial support (as the second or third biggest contributor) to what will essentially be a rival club?

Particularly when not supporting it will make absolutely no difference to our ability to trade with Eurozone countries? It makes no difference to Norway or Switzerland and as the Eurozone's biggest customer on planet earth, there is just no way that they could afford not to trade with us, or to impose any kind of trade sanctions. They have much more to lose than we do - our trade with the outside (non EU) world is growing while our trade with the Eurozone is shrinking and is now (a continuing and accelerating trend) less than 50%.

Obviously one can slice the figures to make an argument, this credible report suggests that EU membership and regulation costs the UK £90bn a year. It is a fact that we pay £28 million a day (net of rebate) which adds up to £10.22 billion a year. This more conservative latter figure would enable us to pay the estimated (by the NHS) £8 billion increase needed to fund the 'envy of the world' and get our defence spending up to 2% of GDP.

The £90 billion figure (if saved on current spending) could transform our economy, our public services and our country for the better immeasurably.

We can kick this about if you like, but the fundamental principle is what I'm talking about here. Why would we 'donate' a plugged nickel, for no benefit to the UK, when we have significant budgetary issues right here at home, to support a project that is fundamentally not what we want?

Why would we provide substantial (by any measure) financial support to the EU's take-over of Europe. Essentially to Germany's take-over of Europe when they (Germany) are our main economic rivals? I'm not saying that this rivalry is potentially violent of 'nasty' but I am saying that, in Europe, Germany is a competitor - our biggest competitor.

It makes no sense. If we accept that we will never join the Euro, I see absolutely no earthly reason why we should support those who do, who are either already 'in' or who want to join. There is absolutely no benefit to the UK from doing so.

In footballing terms, we're essentially paying for our opponents to buy a star striker - nay a star team - with whom we have an important upcoming match. And this match is one that if we lose we could well be relegated to the minor leagues. Why on earth would we want to do this?

 Thanks for reading.