So, tomorrow is the day. The day we all have the chance to take back control of our destiny and make our future a brighter one.
This vote is so fundamental — it’s about democracy. We should never forget that we are all going to vote today, because we live in a democratic system.
Democracy is not a permanent construct — it can be taken away at any time. This vote is about whether we want to live in a democratic system or not and keep the power in the hands of people, or give it to irresponsible elites.
The NHS, rights for minorities, rights for workers, an education system, the best legal system in the world… the simple ability to walk down the street without being persecuted by an over-powerful state. All of the things that we have achieved have been brought about simply because we live in a democracy, because, we the people fought and campaigned for what we cared for the most.
If you’re still undecided, here are 8 positive reasons why you should vote leave:
1) The EU undermines British democracy
Because the European institutions make laws on an EU-wide basis, we have a weird and wrong situation of non-British representatives making laws that affect the UK. The UK should be governed by British representatives only, and the only way to achieve this is by leaving the EU. I am a Member of the European Parliament. I have been directly elected by the people of the North West, yet the only people that can initiate legislation are not MEPs, but the unelected European Commission, who are accountable to nobody and cannot be removed. Can you name our EU Commissioner?
2) Leaving the EU will not stop Britain from trading with Europe
A common argument against leaving the EU is that it will shut us off from the European market, but this claim is not borne out by the facts. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are not members of the EU but have access to the single market, tariff free. Furthermore, the UK is a huge market for many EU member states, so it would make little sense for European exporters to cut off such a large market. The EU will not cut off its nose to spite its face. Most importantly, by leaving, we will then have the ability to strike up free trade deals with Non EU countries, that best fit the UK economy.
3) The EU is wasteful
Vast sums of money have been spent on unnecessary and inappropriate projects, such as £760,000 for a “gender equal” cultural centre which was never built, over £350,000 for a project to get European children to draw each other, and £155,000 for a Portuguese golf resort. Why, in this time of hardship should we, the taxpayers, fund this obscene spending when that money could be better spent on our NHS and paying off our national debt?
4) There can be no fair, controlled immigration policy while the UK is a member of the EU
Because the EU imposes freedom of movement throughout all 28 member states, we cannot get a real grip on immigration and make the numbers fewer. As the policy makes the UK favour unskilled EU migrants over non EU migrants. If we vote to leave, we can take back control of our immigration policy and implement a fair and ethical points based system.
Fantastic! Just drove back in Chester from public meeting. So many Leave boards up, and very few remain boards. pic.twitter.com/AnHpCO0pSE
— Steven Woolfe MEP (@Steven_Woolfe) June 21, 2016
5) If we stay in the EU, we will eventually see the entrance of Turkey as an EU member state
This will mean 80 million people will have visa-free access to the United Kingdom, which is a recipe for disaster when we introduce a £9 minimum wage. It’s not just a migration crisis we’ll have on our hands, we’ll also then have a border with Iraq and Syria, two of the most dangerous countries in the world right now. A border with them gives ISIS a clear chance to get into Europe to cause more devastation.
6) The EU army is becoming a reality
It’s been voted through the parliament already and is well on the way to becoming a fully-fledged army. They even gave tax exemptions to arms manufacturers who would design and build drones for this army. I don’t want to see the young men and women of this country have to be sent away to fight for the EU. As members of NATO, this strengthens our security, not the EU.
7) Leaving the EU will allow the UK greater trading freedom
If the UK were to leave the EU, we’d be allowed to pursue our own wide-ranging bilateral trade agreements with other economic powerhouses such as the US, China, India, Brazil, and Japan far more easily. We currently have to wait for the European Union to make our trade deals – but we’re still yet to see ones with some of the largest emerging economies.
This debate is what sort of country we want to be. An outward looking, global trading nation. pic.twitter.com/8Ku06tHnSu
— Steven Woolfe MEP (@Steven_Woolfe) June 21, 2016
8) If we vote to leave the European Union tomorrow, we can finally end the misery British fishermen have faced ever since the EU’s fisheries policy came into force
We’ve seen it rip the souls out of towns like Grimsby, Fleetwood, and Ramsgate. If we take back control of our fisheries then we can revitalise these once great town and see an industry come back from the brink of death.
I did a public meeting last night with Chris Grayling, an MP and leader of the House of Commons.
My message was clear: This referendum is about what sort of country we want to live in. As I’ve written on Heat Street for the past month and a half, this debate is not about my future, but rather about my daughter’s future.
I want to live in a prosperous country with its own identity. I do not want to be part of a United States of Europe. The only way to secure our future is by voting to leave tomorrow.
