The EU has grown from nine to twenty-eight member countries. Having begun as a coal and steel trading bloc, the EU has expanded vastly over the last century. This expansion has meant less representation for UK voters and less accountability for EU officials. Regulations and legislation emanate from the European Commission, […]
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A common market with the world, not a failing common government with Europe
International free trade is vital for any modern economy. The EU is in charge of our international trade: within the EU, the UK is unable to agree its own trade deals. Today, we trade more with countries outside the EU (56 percent) than within (44 percent). The UK has a trade surplus of £31 billion with […]
Read MoreThe EU holds down wages and business growth
EU regulations cost the UK economy over £33.3 billion every year. While only 6 percent of UK firms export to the EU, 100 percent of them must obey EU regulations. The Bank of England has calculated that for every 10 percent increase in immigration, wages for the poorest fall by around 2 percent. The Chairman of Britain […]
Read MoreIndependence is a new opportunity for the UK
The world faces big problems and the EU cannot cope. We love Europe but we don’t need to accept the supremacy of EU law to enjoy friendship and cooperation. Non-EU arrangements like NATO and the “Five Eyes” intelligence sharing network with the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand do not require […]
Read MoreThe EU did not allow our Government the change we need
David Cameron was allowed no meaningful change when he went to Europe to renegotiate Britain’s deal with the EU. This is our opportunity to decide if we want to remain in the EU on the basis of the Lisbon Treaty, which the Conservative Party under David Cameron opposed. The EU […]
Read MoreThe EU makes over half our laws and EU law is supreme in the UK
According to the House of Commons Library, between 2010 and 2013, the average proportion of EU-based UK law and regulation was 59%. They write: The average over these four years was higher, at 59%. But even this calculation does not take account of UK primary legislation or EU ‘soft law’ […]
Read MoreThe EU costs us too much, we don’t have control and the bill is growing
The UK is billed over £50m a day by the EU. Our contribution has grown over the years. We can expect it to grow in the future. We receive a rebate equivalent to £13.6 million a day, applied a year in arrears. It is negotiable. We receive £5.9 billion per year or £16.1 million […]
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TTIP, the NHS, and the Queen’s speech.
This week my conservative colleague Peter Lilley put forth an amendment to the Queen’s speech regarding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the NHS. The text of the amendment was as follows: At end add ‘but respectfully regret that a Bill to protect the National Health Service from […]
Read MoreA Parliamentary Question on wage increases following Brexit
Yesterday, I asked the Immigration Minister a Parliamentary Question on the positive effect that Brexit would have on wages: Steve: The Government’s case rests on ignoring the arguments set out by my right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions earlier this week, particularly in relation to people […]
Read MoreReaction to Mr Kerry’s intervention in the EU debate on behalf of the USA
The Independent reports my reaction to US Secretary of State John Kerry’s intervention in the EU debate: Responding to Mr Kerry’s remarks at the Munich annual security conference the Conservative MP Steve Baker said to the Independent: “I refer Mr Kerry to the US Declaration of Independence. We will do […]
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