Britannia Radio

“Time to Say No” (the pamphlet) and “Leaving the EU” (the DVD)

A Cautionary Warning

Ashley Mote

Much as I admire both Ian Milne and Trevor Colman – and have worked with both in my time – I fear the solution offered both in the pamphlet and the film is utterly unrealistic.

The idea that we accept the terms of the EU treaties and give two year’s notice of leaving is foolhardy, naive and dangerous.

Trevor, in particular, should now know better. He’s been there and seen how the EU works.

So have I.

Those two years would be used by the bureaucrats to achieve two things :

1. They would mount a huge and sustained PR campaign in the UK to “warn” the people of the UK of the terrible consequences of leaving. Our own taxpayer’s money would be used against us in a sustained campaign to undermine the then UK government’s objective. Every incident, problem, crisis would be “sold” to the BBC and the other pro-EU media as being the direct and inescapable result of the UK’s decision to leave.

2. Any and every EU regulation and directive which has been passed into UK law would be nit-picked over and reinforced with threats of fines and prosecution in the European Court of Justice (and probably the European Court of Human Rights which, BTW, is not an EU institution). Any interim activity planned by the British government would also be examined microscopically for any apparent unlawful activity, and again policed with threats. It would be a logistical and administrative nightmare for the then UK government.

Given the pathetic wimpishness of recent prime ministers when faced with the EU they might easily buckle.

That, of course, would be the EU’s purpose. They would do everything they could - legal or illegal, moral or immoral, truthful or not - to have the notice to withdraw itself withdrawn.

Such a sustained campaign – fully understood by only a small fraction of the UK’s electorate - might even win the day, especially if the then British government succumbed to pressure for a second referendum. The EU has a long and fearful track-record of winning referenda re-runs.

There is only one way to leave.

Repeal the European Communities Act, 1972. We are immediately free. Over 100,000 pages of secondary legislation (Statutory Instruments) fall simultaneously.

No further discussion, except perhaps about practicalities.

Two serious issues linger, however. First, it would be essential for the then UK government to declare a moratorium on any contracts or other legal agreements based on now repealed Statutory Instruments, to allow the various parties involved to negotiate new terms in an orderly fashion under UK law.

Secondly, all UK primary law enacted in compliance with EU directives should be subject to a similar moratorium for an specific period while an orderly series of repeals or amendments are made in the best interests of the British people. UK primary legislation based on damaging EU directives is extensive - Health and Safety being a classic example.

I am sorry to differ from my erstwhile colleagues, but I fear their route has far too many potentially catastrophic self-generated booby-traps.

We have to remember we are a sovereign nation. The decision is ours, and only ours.

Ashley Mote