LOCALLY

"WHAT HAS MEMBERSHIP OF THE EU GOT TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE OF THIS CONSTITUENCY?"
Membership of the EU impacts negatively on our jobs, our money, our system of government and our democracy. Anybody who is concerned about these issues must also be concerned about the negative influence of the EU. Take for example, the local issue of ... xxxxx...

We stand to prosper, both economically and politically, if we leave the EU.

"WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR THE VOTERS OF THIS CONSTITUENCY?"
Ultimately, this is a national, as much as a local, issue. But what we can do for the people in this constituency, as much as for any other constituency, is, give them back their government.

Right now it is the European Union which governs everything in this country.

Now, while we're happy to co-operate with all of Europe, we don't want the European Union to govern us. We don't want the European Union to tell us what to do.

We want a government which will make decisions in response to our own needs. We want a government which will implement the policies which are best for us.

To do that, we need to leave the EU.

We need to bring government home.

"WHAT DIFFERENCE WILL LEAVING THE EU MAKE TO MY LIFE?"
Out the EU we can have lower taxes, lower inflation, lower house prices, and less bureaucracy. We can have more money to spend on better public services, more money to spend on hospitals, schools, transport, industry, agriculture and jobs.

ON THE EU IN GENERAL

"WE SHOULD ABOLISH NATION STATES BECAUSE THEY CAUSE WARS"
Nation states don't cause wars. It's ruling elites and vested interests who cause wars. Moreover, these elites don't necessarily need a nation-state to mobilise. They can mobilise international institutions just as easily -- witness the bombing of Yugoslavia.

It may be true that national sentiment can be manipulated, but pride in one's country is a virtue which should be encouraged. It is up to us to make sure that we are not misled by unscrupulous people who would try to misuse our loyalties for their own ends.

"IT'S TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING"
It's never too late. We can leave the European Union at any time -- and the sooner the better. We can free ourselves from its destructive policies. We can develop a new co-operative relationship with Europe, and we can trade with the entire world.

In fact, we can have the best of all worlds, and we can have it right now. We just need to throw the defeatists out. All we need is your vote.

"THERE IS NO FUTURE IN ISOLATIONISM IN THIS WORLD. WE HAVE TO BE INTERNATIONALLY ENGAGED" (T. Blair P.M. Interview with The Guardian, May 16th 1998, p.4)
Correct! There is, indeed, no future in isolationism. Britain has always been an outward looking nation. Its people have always looked to the horizon.

Unfortunately, today, it is the European Union which restricts both our vision and our potential. The sovereignty movement encourages a global outlook. That is why we need to get out the EU and get back into the real world.

"HOW CAN BRITAIN BE EXPECTED TO MAKE IT ON ITS OWN?"
Britain is the centre of three great world entities, the English speaking countries, the Commonwealth, and Europe. It's the fourth largest economy in the world, and English is the world's language. We are perfectly positioned for unlimited success.

Moreover, we will not be "on our own". Countries will continue to trade with us just as they do today. Opportunities abound when we base a programme on trade with the world, instead of only 14 countries in Europe.

Britain's success and influence can be greater than it has ever been, if only it has the will and the leadership.

ON SOVEREIGNTY

"SURELY BRITAIN IS STILL SOVEREIGN. IT IS ONLY A MEMBER OF THE EU BECAUSE IT WANTS TO BE."
Britain is like a man who locks himself in a cage with the key in his hand. He is ultimately sovereign because he could free himself anytime he wanted, but so long as he chooses to remain imprisoned then his room for manoeuvre is severely limited.

Membership of the EU is like that. So long as we willingly choose to remain within the EU cage then we have sovereignty in theory, but not in practice.

If we are to be free again to develop our own policies, make our own laws, keep our own currency, and control our economy in response to our own needs, then we need to unlock the cage. We need to leave the EU.

"IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ANY NATION TO BE 'SOVEREIGN', IN THE MODERN WORLD"
It is perfectly possible for any nation to be sovereign, that is, to maintain authority over its own affairs. It is perfectly possible for any nation to develop its own policies, make its own laws, keep its own currency and control its own economy, in response to its own needs. All of that is possible. It only takes the will and the leadership.

"WE NEED TO SHARE SOVEREIGNTY FOR THE GREATER GOOD"
We need to co-operate for the greater good. We don't need to give up our self-government for the greater good.

"YOU TALK ABOUT A SOVEREIGN 'NATION' BUT WE BELIEVE 'THE PEOPLE' ARE SOVEREIGN"
Sovereignty rests with the people, but it is exercised, on their behalf, through their national governing institutions.

If the governing institutions no longer exercise sovereignty on behalf of the people, then the sovereignty of the people has been compromised.

Ultimately, it is for the people to reassert their sovereignty, and ensure that the national institutions exercise it once again in the world of national and international politics.

ON "EUROPE"

"OPINION POLLS SUGGEST THAT EUROPE IS WAY DOWN THE LIST OF PEOPLE'S CONCERNS, AFTER HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SO ON. THIS SUGGESTS EUROPE ISN'T AN ISSUE FOR MOST PEOPLE"
"Europe" is not the issue. The issue is government by the European Union. Throughout Britain today, we're subject to government by the institutions of the European Union.

The concerns that most people express for health, education, and so on, are all areas of responsibility for government. However, the European Union is the government.

To be concerned about the constituent issues for government rather than the government itself, is missing the big picture.

If people do not regard the European Union as an issue, they are saying they do not regard government as an issue!

"EUROPE HAS BETTER LAWS"
That's a matter of opinion, but even if it were true, every nation has the right to govern itself badly, and to make its own mistakes. We should make our own decisions rather than have those decisions made for us by those who are not accountable or electable.

"WE GO HOLIDAYS TO SPAIN AND CRETE, WE DRINK FRENCH WINE AND WE EAT PIZZA. SURELY BRITISH PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY EMBRACED EUROPE"
Again, it's not about embracing Europe, the culture. It's about being shackled to a European Political State. I'll make you a promise. After we've left the EU, we'll throw a big party and you can bring as much French wine and Italian pizza as you want.

"THE MAJOR PARTIES HAVE SAID THEY DO NOT WANT A FEDERAL EUROPE"
A "federal Europe" isn't an end. It is a constant process, and we are wrapped up in that process right now. Every new treaty, directive and regulation tightens the ratchet even further.

We are already part of a federal Europe, which is more federal today than it was yesterday, and less federal than it will be tomorrow.