What does it tell us about what Prime Minister Mark Carney really wants, that a yet-to-be-defined associate relationship with Europe is something to which we should aspire, but any suggestion of a comparable relationship with the US would be anathema if not faintly treasonous?
The short answer is that for Mr. Carney the political meaning of the two options is not the same. In the absence of full details, being an “Associate” to the European Union sounds like statesmanship. (Once details are provided, it may not.)
