Public Affairs

UKIP: Brexit best for Northern Ireland

The leader of UKIP in Northern Ireland, David McNarry MLA discusses the impact a potential Brexit will have on Northern Ireland and the UK.

Brace yourselves folks! We are in for a helter skelter spring to summer festival of cut and thrust politics. Between now and July the political landscapes, both here in Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom’s regions, will have changed with dramatic effect. I am, of course, referring to the Stormont Assembly elections and the game changing EU referendum. Mind you, the fresh start plea begs the question how many starts do you need to get it right?

UKIP, like no other party, are out of the blocks with clear concise reasoning. Last autumn in Belfast, Nigel Farage laid down UKIP’s challenge to all the Northern Ireland parties. We are leading the way. He said ‘follow our lead or declare you position.’ Sitting on the fence, while waiting on the outcome of David Cameron’s negotiations in Brussels, is not for UKIP. Under no circumstances will we allow the right of self-determination by the British people to be decided by Angela Merkel. The German people, particularly in their economic heartland of Bavaria, have rounded on Merkel by rejecting her open door policies on migration.

There can be no doubt that this referendum will be crucial for Northern Ireland’s future. It will be a massive decision, determining the future direction of this country and opening up the opportunity for a better life for our people. The most knowledgeable experts have already predicted that the Prime Minister’s foray into negotiating a better deal to stay inside the EU will come unstuck and will fall a long way short of even his optimistic expectations. He may even be removed from his post by an embittered and despairing Conservative party by September and with Labour in something of a rut at present both Corbyn and Cameron have turned out to be UKIP’s best ever recruiting sergeants. I believe the nation will vote overall to leave the EU, taking Northern Ireland out of Europe.

Within Northern Ireland, I believe UKIP will prosper from offering its distinctive alternative to the parties which quite frankly have let the people of Northern Ireland down. UKIP will continue to play a positive role, keeping the Stormont Executive honest and holding them to account for every twist and turn they make. We see strength for the Union in developing links through a ‘celtic coalition’ of UKIP representatives in Scotland, Wales and Stormont. The canny Scots will, I am sure, stay in the United Kingdom.

UKIP says no to staying in the EU. We want to control our borders, cut back foreign aid and return the UK back to our people and parliament. The NHS across the UK would benefit with an extra £3 billion of investment. UKIP would not impose a tax on the minimum wage. We would reverse the crisis in education in Northern Ireland, all schools will be good schools and grammar schools will be protected. Affordable housing has to mean affordable. UKIP will invest in young people and their futures. We will reward those who invest here and work in improving prosperity. Farmers will be better off out of the EU. UKIP’s sound, properly costed policies show its fitness for office. That is why ordinary people are supporting and voting for the only party with representatives in every Legislative Parliament or Assembly across the UK. 

How refreshing it is to see more voices being raised in challenging the ‘Pro EU – stay in’ sell out collection of well-paid lobbyists. 

Recently Lord Kilclooney former MEP, Rt. Hon. John D. Taylor claimed that he was “embarrassed at the unsubstantiated claims by those in favour of continuing membership of the European Union,” rounding on those attempting to win the debate without facts, and claiming without any supportive evidence, that there would be dire consequences for economic co-operation between both parts of Ireland if the United Kingdom left the EU. 

The EU exports twice as much to the UK than the UK exports to the EU. So, if the UK left the EU, European exporters, such as German car manufacturers or French wine producers, are most unlikely to wish to undermine their trading advantage. In my opinion, there would continue to be a free trade area between the EU and the UK and therefore between the two parts of Ireland. Neither the EU nor either part of our island would wish otherwise. Brexit is unstoppable. How disappointing it is therefore to witness Northern Ireland’s CBI campaign to stay in the EU. 

Let me leave these thoughts for consideration of UKIP’s open perspective on protecting our nation’s heritage cultures and countryside. We act in your interests.

Our own parliament is far better than unelected, remote, urban bureaucrats in Brussels to decide what is good for our countryside and its businesses. Despite urbanisation, the people of these islands continue to have an intimate connection with and understanding of the countryside. UKIP does not want to see rural Britain and Northern Ireland preserved in aspic. 

Without the dead hand of Brussels bureaucracy, the huge cost to the UK as a net contributor to the EU and the Common Agricultural Policy, our countryside, our farms and rural economy will be better managed and far better funded. Help us to seize back control from Brussels. Nigel Farage will be back in Belfast soon. He is worth listening to. 

 

 

 

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