[FreedomToCreate]

Hawkings is pointing out how the EU allowed for collaboration and money to flow from multiple sources, while now Britain will lose access to many of those. He also draws attention to how a mindset of "Britains wealth is being taken by foreigners", even though it isn't, was a driving force for many to vote for Brexit. The need for sorveignty arose from people belief that the wealth of Britain, be it economic and cultural, was being taken by foreigners.

From this perspective, Hawkings makes a good point to consider for anyone who is trying to better understand Brexit and its repercussions.

Also not related to the article, but the EU has kept Europe out of war for the longest period of time and was one reason for the unification.