Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think it's UK remainers pointing out the difficulties. Which is somewhat understandable considering: - Their political opponents have spent months dismissing their concerns as scaremongering. - Many would still like us to rejoin the EU at some point. So it makes sense to point out the advantages of doing so.
The UK will rejoin at some point, especially because the younger generation will demand it, but it will have to take a decade, more likely two, unless Brexit proves to be an uncontroversial disaster and GB falls behind extremely. I wouldn't wish that on anybody. There is just too much national pride around this move, and the British political system is so thoroughly messed up that it will take one or two leadership g…
After the Suez Crisis in 1953 it was clear to the British establishment that the US would put its own interests first over its allies, and the UK was a busted flush as a world power. Without its empire its only future was as a "first among equals" in the European project.
It spent the next two decades trying to get into the EU (or EEC as it was then) despite objections from Charles de Gaulle and domestic opposition on both sides of the aisle. But by the early 70s it was clear that Britain was not only no longer a world power, but was unable to keep the lights on. The Common Market - plus North Sea oil - was the lifeline.
Now the UK is back where it was in the 70s, only this time the North Sea oil wells are running dry and it is out of the EU with no prospect of joining soon, having trashed relations with its closest neighbours.