LIBERAL FUTURE – LF – has always opposed the European Union. We believe that its end goal is the formation of a United States of Europe. We’ve no interest in Empires or Superstates as they tend to be highly centralised political and economic systems.  We favour smaller, ‘rooted’, nations – all based on a human scale – which are freely allowed to express their traditions, language and identity without any outside interference.

However, whilst LF is opposed to the EU we’re not anti-European. Indeed, how could we be anti-European when the UK (indeed, the whole of the British Isles) constitutes part of Europe?  We’re proud to be both Britons & Europeans.

It is important to distinguish between the European Union (EU) and Europe itself.  We feel that the EU is a rich man’s club for powerful corporate big business and banking elites. Here, their underlings – also known as politicians – are happy enough with the trappings of power.

For us Europe isn’t about money, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or profit margins.  Europe – from the Atlantic in the West to the Urals in the East & the Arctic Ocean in the North to the Mediterranean Sea in the South – represents a shared culture, history & heritage.  In short, for us Europe is about people.

This new LF series – Days In Europa – will develop our ideas about European solidarity and co-operation.  We’re not petty nationalists so we want to see a Europe of free peoples and nations based on the twin ideas of National Freedom & Social Justice.  If we were to sum up our ideal vision in a simple slogan it would be: Love Europe – Hate The EU.

With all of this in mind, we’d also like to use this opportunity to explore the beauty of Europe.  And we kick off with a look at the Cathedral of Vasily (Basil) the Blessed, more commonly known as St. Basil’s Cathedral, in Moscow, Russia.

Situated like an island at the southern end of Red Square it was built between 1555 – 1561.  The Orthodox Christian Cathedral was built on the orders of the first Tsar of Russia, Ivan IV Vasilyevich (better known as Ivan the Terrible) to commemorate his victory in the Russo-Kazan Wars, which included the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan.

St. Basil’s is a striking & iconic building.   Built from ornate red brick it features ten chapels and ten vividly coloured onion-shaped domes.  These are said to represent the flames of a bonfire.  It must be one of the most beautiful – and photogenic – buildings in Rusia, if not Europe itself.  Inside the Cathedral (on the first floor) is the last resting place of St. Basil, whilst outside is a platform from which the Tsar would announce executions and general orders.

During the (state atheist) era of the Soviet Union the Cathedral was used as a State Historical Museum.  However, since 1997 it has been open for weekly services & prayers.

• FOR MORE information about Liberal Future – the youth wing of the National Liberal Party – check out:  https://nationalliberal.org/liberty-wall-3/liberal-future

• LIBERAL FUTURE would like your views on both this article & our ideas for a future Europe.  Simply post your comments  when  you  see  this  article  posted  on  our  Facebook  page  https://www.facebook.com/ groups/706779429376233 and/or  the  National  Liberals  Facebook  page  https://www.facebook.com/ groups/52739504313

• READERS MAY be interested in the logos which feature at the bottom of the first Days In Europa poster produced by Liberal Future – the youth wing of the National Liberal Party.

The circular black & orange logo (on the left) symbolises the fusion of progressive nationalism and liberalism.  Here we give equal weight to ‘national questions’ (concerning all of the nations & peoples of the British Isles and in principle, beyond) as we do to ‘liberal’ questions (concerning the individual and freedom).

The square orange logo (centre) is the official symbol of Liberal Future.  We’ve used it since 2014 when the idea of creating a youth movement for the National Liberal Party was first mooted: https://nationalliberal.org/liberalfuture-–-a-manifesto-for-our-youth

Finally, the white, blue & red logo is the official flag of the Russian Federation.  The history of the flag is interesting as it’s based on the Dutch tricolour.  During the Soviet era it was replaced by the hammer & sickle flag but was reintroduced in 1991.