In nine days’ time, we have the opportunity to do something amazing. We can usher in a new era of British democracy, prosperity, international trade and co-operation. We have a chance to vote for our very own independence day. I am really excited about the opportunity because I believe in Britain.
We’re a nation of 64 million incredible people, each one of us has our own individual skills, talents and together we have a vast collective wealth of creativity, resilience, generosity, strength, optimism and ambition. We are Great Britain, the world’s fifth largest economy, the fourth greatest global exporter, the seventh largest manufacturing nation. We are a permanent seat holder on the UN Security Council, a member of the G7, the G20, a founder member of the World Bank and a major player in NATO. Nobody with any sense of pride or patriotism or love of our country could ever call us isolated, insignificant or unable to make our own way in the world. What I love most about being part of the Leave campaign is sharing a platform with others like Dan Hannan from across the political spectrum who are passionate about pursuing an optimistic, ambitious future for our United Kingdom, people determined to fight for freedom for our country so it can be robust.
It’s a bit painful for us to see Britain as it is today, trapped in a tiny little box of just twenty eight nations. In nine days’ time we want to release it into the great big wide world of 196 nations so it can soar. Yes, change can be difficult, I know. The familiarity of what we know can be comfortable even when it’s holding us back. How many people do you know who have stayed in a less than fulfilling job or a rocky relationship because it’s easier and less scary than looking for a new one? Maybe you’ve been there yourself, I know I have. But have we really been so cowed by Brussels that we’ve forgotten how big and strong and capable we are? Well we have got nine days to remember, to find our national self-confidence and people like Dan and I have got nine more days to make a positive case for leaving the European Union. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that presumably the Remainers have got nine more days to unleash a new round of nightmare scenarios, threats and insults. I actually think it is quite sad that they seem to be relying on hyperbole and irrational panic to make you vote their way. They are insulting your intelligence by using sly little pieces of political trickery like the Chancellor deliberately leaking news of Treasury preparations to deal with financial panic in the event of a Brexit vote to – spark financial panic, by expecting you to vote to throw away your democratic rights if your flight to Tenerife will be a little bit cheaper, never mind the fact that cheaper flights are nothing to do with the EU.
All this really isn’t a vote about whether to stay in the European Union at all, but about whether it’s Boris or Nigel or Donald Trump who will be Supreme Governor of the Universe on 24th June. But the one Remain message we really mustn’t fall for is if we stay in the EU nothing will change. Don’t be fooled by the tyranny of the status quo, there is actually no status quo option in this referendum. You might think that by voting for Remain you are voting for no change but that’s not how it is seen in Brussels. In Brussels every ballot case for Remain will be interpreted as a passionate enthusiasm for the EU institutions and a wholehearted endorsement of a European dream of a single federalist state, a single border, a single currency, justice system, a single army, a single property register, a single tax system, a single everything.
Now if that’s what you want, fine: vote Remain, it’s your right even in our tolerant democracy to cast a vote to give up the democracy. But if that’s not what you want don’t let yourself be bullied into voting through fear. Be bold, be strong, vote Leave even if it pushes you beyond your comfort zone because that, ladies and gentlemen is where life begins. We need to change to grow, embracing new possibilities even though they are challenging is the stuff that life is made of – taking a new job, leaving a job you hate, learning a new skill, starting a business, a new relationship, ending a relationship that isn’t working. Three years ago I was a Conservative councillor in one of the safest Tory seats in London and I could have been there for life but it didn’t feel right, there were things going on that I just couldn’t condone. Leaving wasn’t an easy decision for me to make but leave I did and looking back I know it was one of the best things I ever did. It was well outside my comfort zone but I told myself that whatever happens, you are a strong, capable, independent woman with plenty of resources to call upon, you’ll be fine – and I am, the odd public sacking aside.
The last three years have been a string of fantastic opportunities I’d never have dreamed of, being here tonight is one of them. So coming to the tyranny of the status quo with false promises would be a mistake – there is no status quo in this referendum. The safest option is to vote to leave and take back control. Why? Because there’s one simple inescapable fact which shines through the maze of statistics, claims and counter-claims that you’ll have heard in this debate and it’s this: if we remain in the European Union Britain will be restricted, regulated and restrained by edicts of the serried EU institutions dictating what we can and cannot do.
Inside the EU Britain is limited, outside the EU Britain’s possibilities are limitless. So do something amazing on 23rd June: cast a vote of confidence in our country, our wonderful, talented, ambitious, impressive, brilliant country. Vote Leave and give our country the power to take back control of parliament, of the money, her own borders and her own destiny.
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