After months of noisy campaigning, tomorrow YOU will decide on one of the biggest issues facing this country: do we want to Remain a member of the EU or Leave?
It’s a massive decision which will affect this country for decades to come: economically, politically, and culturally.
At its heart is a simple choice: do you think the United Kingdom is better off IN the European Union, Single Market and at the top table leading reform in Europe, or do you think we are better off out?
It is your choice. My vote counts equally to yours. I set out my position clearly on my website when the campaign started. But out and about a lot of people have asked me how I am voting and why. So I wanted to let you know.
First, let me say, I welcome the fact that David Cameron has given the British people the say. Politicians serve the people. When all the main political parties agree we are better off remaining IN, people who disagree rightly feel aggrieved that they don't have a voice. Tomorrow you have a chance to have your voice and decide.
Second, whilst I have decided that on balance the best thing for Mid Norfolk, our economy, our children and our country is to stay IN, I respect the views of those who differ and have done everything I can to have an open debate here in Norfolk, organising over 15 EU: In Or Out? debates in the last nine months, and bringing leading Brexit campaigners such as my good friend Steve Baker MP and Douglas Carswell to Norfolk so you can hear the arguments for and against.
This shouldn't be a tribal argument. Voters want to hear the case made with respect and listen to the concerns voiced. After you have decided, we have to work together to get the best for Britain.
Third, I think this issue is more about the next generation than ours. I am 50 next year. My children are 15 and 13 and at school preparing for a career and life ahead. This vote will affect their lives and that of the young more than ours, and I am voting as much for them.
For me it has been a difficult decision. There is no 'right answer'. This isn't a pub quiz. There isn't an answer upside down at the bottom of the page. It’s a judgement about what sort of country we want to be in the 21st Century. And how to make sure we best secure this country's prosperity, security and influence in a dangerous and volatile world.
Europe needs reform. I think we all agree about that. It has churned out too many laws, not created enough jobs, and like all Governments (including ours!) has a lot of bureaucrats too far from the real world. There are reformers in every country of Europe who share our concerns and want to follow our lead as reformers of Europe. To succeed we need to work with them. I have been a leading reformer in Parliament and am pushing for a more global, enterprising and innovative EU that focuses more on creating jobs and businesses to help make us all more prosperous. And secure. Because our ability to defend ourselves and pay for public services and the armed forces and all the things we need is based on our ability to earn the tax revenues to fund them.
So as a Father, Norfolk MP and proud East Anglian, UK Trade Envoy, Business and Health Minister and campaigner for a reformed EU, I have decided the right thing is to vote RemaIN tomorrow.
Why?
Here are my 10 reasons:
1. Economy
All the reliable independent evidence forecasts that leaving the EU and single market would lead to a massive black hole in our public finances, meaning higher taxes and/or less public spending, and risk tipping the UK and European economies into recession.
2. The Single Market
Tariff-free access to the EU single market of 500 million consumers is a huge boost for UK businesses to grow and create jobs and prosperity. And a major reason for the huge global inward investment we have seen in sectors like Life Science (£5 billion inward investment creating 16,000 skilled jobs in the last 4 years), Automotive and Aerospace sectors. Pulling out would mean a return to tariffs, duties or trying to renegotiate re-entry, and risk countries like France imposing import tariffs on goods like UK apples and beef. It makes NO sense to withdraw from the single market.
3. EU reform
We all know the EU - like our own Government - needs modernisation and reform. And so does the UK's relationship with the EU. We voted for a Common Market - not a Political Union. That’s why the Prime Minister’s negotiated reforms are so significant: for the first time ever we have a recognised 'Special Status’:
- IN the single market but NEVER the Euro
- IN the EU but exempt from 'ever closer political Union'
- Free to enjoy free movement of Labour but tough new rules preventing BENEFIT tourism.
The New Deal negotiated by David Cameron means we are 'In Europe but not run by Europe' as William Hague called for. It is a legal agreement. People will rightly want to see it proven in practice. We need to be clear to Europe that a vote for RemaIN is a vote for Reform, and reserve our sovereign right to revisit as and when we choose.
4. Security and Safety
The world is an increasingly dangerous place. Russia and China rearming. America switching to the Pacific. The Middle East in flames. Terrorism and extremism on the rise. Through the EU Arrest Warrant we have been able to fast-track the deportation of 7000 criminals back to the EU. And bring to justice 1000 criminals to face justice in UK courts. Through EuroPol and Border, Police and Customs Intelligence sharing we are able to track criminals. The UK border for migrants is currently in Calais - after Brexit it would be Dover. Is this really the time to leave our European allies and retreat behind the Channel?
5. One Nation: England or United Kingdom?
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all want to be IN the EU. A Brexit vote would very likely trigger a second Scottish Referendum and break-up of the United Kingdom. Wales and Northern Ireland could easily follow suit. We would then be 'Little England' not the United Kingdom of Great Britain. We would be a much smaller country and economy - no longer at the UN Security Council or G7.
6. Global influence
All our allies have made clear that by leaving the top table of the EU and going it alone, we would lose not gain global power and influence. We are no longer the global imperial post-War power we were. We can't turn the clock back. The world is changing. Globalisation is creating three major economic 'trade zones': the Americas, Europe and the Middle East and Asia. This is the world we have to succeed in.
7. The next generation
This is about the next generation more than us. The young feel - and are - more 'European' than us. They want and value being able to travel, study freely across Europe. They don't yearn to go back to an imperial post-War Britain. They want to be global citizens and want the UK to be an international, co-operative nation tackling issues like the environment, global epidemics, African poverty and creating a more prosperous and safer world they can thrive and travel safely in. We should be guided more by their interests than our own.
8. Norfolk's prospects
I'm a passionate East Anglian and Norfolkman and MP who cares deeply about the quality of our local economy, services, jobs, economic opportunities for the young and investment and exports. I believe the economic risk and shock of pulling out of the EU single market would lead to a downturn, lower investment, closure and withdrawal over the next decade of businesses who need to access the EU single market. I think the low paid workers of Norfolk would lose most.
9. Immigration
I recognise that for many people this is the issue driving a desire to leave. Most people are not 'anti-foreigner', they simply see some towns experiencing huge numbers of new workers, at the same as our necessary deficit reduction hits local services. Whilst in fact many of these people are young and hardworking, putting more into the economy than they take out, it’s clear that locally and nationally people want more control over the numbers, and more investment in infrastructure where there has been such rapid growth. We need to tackle this.
It was madness of Tony Blair not to use the exemption of free movement from the East European nations offered to him when they joined. It was inevitable people would pour in. We need to see those countries get more prosperous so that fewer people want to leave. And the PM is right to have won tough new laws to clamp down on welfare 'tourism'.
Because our economy has been growing so successfully we are attracting hundreds of thousands of people to work here - in the cafes and bars of London and our cities, in our factories, in the NHS. Most migrants work hard and do jobs many young Brits don't want to: hard physical labour in farm fields, butchering and processing pigs in the Watton pig factory or working as NHS cleaners or in elderly care. The awkward truth is that in an ageing society our public services depend on them.
10. Our destiny
Fundamentally, the vote tomorrow is a question about who we want to be as a country. In an ever more volatile world, do we want to continue to look outwards, leading the reform movement in Europe and retaining our status as a major world power, at the heart of Europe and the world? Or do we want to cut ourselves off from the largest single market in the world, forced to the back of the queue and triggering a major economic downturn that could affect millions of families. The EU is far from perfect. It still needs major reform. But the only way we can continue to achieve this is by having a seat at the top table. Staying in, we can have the best of both worlds. As the fifth largest economy in the world, we should be leading the way, not retreating. With the world more uncertain than ever, now is not the time to walk away from our allies and neighbours. The biggest challenges we face in the world do not respect national boundaries. They won't go away after the vote. On Friday we will have to work with our neighbours whatever the result.
For all those reasons, I have decided that it is in the interests of this country, county, constituency and the next generation to vote to Remain tomorrow.
Whatever you decide - please cast your vote as you think best for us all.
Yours,
George
