Yea, good points on the history, and no one could fully predict the future back then (I also remember that the Cold War was never supposed to end). So anyway what’s interesting is that when the EU did move to put the UK in its place, the politicians did not defend the UK, particularly Blair...and so here we are.
but post 155 wasn’t and isn’t about history - the UK still “runs the show” as a veto-holding member of the EU.
you say “the EU did move to put the UK in its place” — err.. HOW?