EIGHT weeks after breaking with the EU, focus is on links to France.

Here in East Lothian, few appreciate how close we are to a continental neighbour, but it’s not France. Calais lies 800km south from Dunbar. . . but head east and you will find Denmark 150km closer.

Despite having Danes live among us here and the (failed) twinning of North Berwick with Kerteminde, our appreciation for things Danish remains poor. The Danes, not being a boastful people, project a modest global profile based on butter, bacon and Lego. This underrates them.

We could build a better future learning from somewhere with similar population, climate and almost as many islands as Scotland.

Denmark ranks seventh in per capita wealth (nine other EU members rank above Britain, in 21st place).

But when Denmark is cited as a place to emulate, UK politicians harrumph about tax rates of 50 per cent.

Yet income is also high, boosted by a comprehensive, integrated health and social system. They enjoy high job security and up to 90 per cent of salary for up to two years if made redundant.

You might think this would breed slackers, but the Danes are more efficient than the British. Danish productivity has not stagnated for a decade. Danes typically work 8am-4pm, then use long summer evenings to balance work with life.

The UN rated them as the world’s happiest country three times over the last decade. Nordic neighbours are all in the top 10, while Britain wallows in austerity and 13th place.

This was achieved by enlightened policy and leadership. They have fought no wars for 200 years – if you discount two invasions by Germany.

Danes were first to abolish slavery; they modernised their agriculture a century ago; they emancipated women early, electing female MPs by 1918. They are a sociable people, joining clubs and societies (which eschew class distinctions) in their thousands. CEOs play tennis with labourers.

This attitude and economic egalitarianism has led to the lowest social inequality in Europe. And, unlike Scotland’s cabal of absentee landlords, only Danish residents may own Danish property. Their well-designed, draft-free homes are hygge (untranslatable, but somewhere between snug and sociable) and, like the Dutch, they use bicycles and their well-ordered countryside, both for recreation.

It is a shame we know so little about somewhere so near us that we would do well to emulate.