Wish we were part of the Schengen, be great to not have to bother with passports all over Europe, but for extremely obvious reasons, there's no-way the UK could be. Imagine what would happen!! Europe would empty of immigrants into the UK within hours.
Anyway, isn't it funny how politicians start being all "popular", once there's either an election due, or more often - once they are kicked out and can't do anything to actually implement those policies anymore.