I had just turned six years old when the last referendum on Europe was held and that was, we were told at the time, to join a free trading area (although anyone who read the Treaty of Rome at the time would have seen that was deceptive).
Since 1975 the EEC evolved into to EC and now the centralising, fundamentally undemocratic, political construct of the EU. I sit on the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee and see with my own eyes, and often with dismay, the significant level of directives and legislative demands emanating from the EU.
I am pleased, therefore, that the Conservative Party has pledged that a Conservative Government would hold an in/out referendum on the basis of a re-negotiation of our terms of membership in 2017. In addition, David Cameron has said he will not remain as Prime Minister if he is unable to deliver a referendum. Were there to be another coalition government following another indecisive election result in 2015, then this issue will be a sticking point for the Conservative Party in any negotiations.
Despite being in coalition government with the Liberal Democrat, a pro-EU party, Conservatives in government have:
- Cut the budget for the first time in its history, saving British taxpayers over £8 billion.
- Vetoed a new EU Fiscal Treaty that did not guarantee a level playing field for British business.
- Taken Great Britain out of the Eurozone bailouts.
A Conservative Government would continue on from its work in coalition, acting to ensure that:
- More powers are restored back to Great Britain.
- Our borders are kept under control and benefit tourism cracked down on.
- More trade is secured whilst stopping ‘ever closer union’.
- The British public is given an in/out referendum on Europe in 2017.
Only the Conservative Party both wants and is able to deliver an in/out referendum, which it will do if elected into government without the shackles of coalition.
For too long the British people have had no say about their future in Europe. The Prime Minister and I are absolutely determined to put that right.
In my four years as Crawley’s MP I have voted for and spoken in favour of a British referendum on our membership of the EU in the House of Commons, despite being unpopular at times, and will continue to do so.