Last week
the Prime Minister updated Parliament on his latest discussions in the
renegotiation of our relationship with the European Union. He also announced that Cabinet Members and
Government Ministers are free to campaign on either side of the debate in the EU
In/Out Referendum.
It is now
likely that this Referendum will be held during 2016, possibly in June or July.
This was one of the key commitments in
the Conservative election manifesto and I am pleased that we are delivering on
it so quickly.
A number of
people have asked what my position is on the EU Referendum, and how I will be
voting. My position has remained
unchanged since I embarked on the journey to become your MP in January
2013. I believe our relationship with the EU is currently no longer
working in Britain's best interests. The EU has become increasingly
bureaucratic, undemocratic and institutionalised. So much is now driven by
ideology that is inconsistent with UK values. If the choice were carry on as we
currently are or leave, I would certainly vote to leave.
The Prime
Minister is seeking to renegotiate a number of aspects of our relationship.
These include; an opt-out from the “every closer union” objective, protection
for the UK and other countries who remain outside of the Eurozone, and limits
on the benefits paid to EU migrant workers who come to work in this
country.
Whilst I
welcome these elements of the negotiations, I am disappointed that we are not
asking for more. I would like to see a much more fundamental reform that
re-establishes the sovereignty of our parliament over the EU Commission.
Clearly
there are some benefits to belonging to the EU such as the Free Trade
arrangements and access to European markets. Cornwall has also benefited from
millions of pounds of EU support. However I believe we have now reached a point
where the cost and negative impact of being in the EU outweigh the
benefits.
There will
be risks in leaving but there are also risks in staying. The future is uncertain and no one can predict
what the EU will look like in 5 or 10 years time. The migrant crisis, slow
growth and economic instability in the Eurozone, and political changes in
individual countries, together create a very real risk that remaining in could
drag our country down.
The UK economy
is stronger and growing faster than any other EU country; we are in a good
position to continue to thrive outside of the EU.
I will wait
until the Prime Minister's renegotiations are compete before coming to a
decision on how I will vote, but I will need to see more fundamental reform
than is currently under discussion before changing my position. Therefore it is
likely that I will be voting to leave the EU in the Referendum.
It is
important to remember that it is not what the politicians think that matters. This
will be an opportunity for the people of this country to have their say on our
future relationship with the EU for the first time in 40 years. Your view and your vote will count.
This is
your chance to have your say - use it wisely.
