It’s less than a year since the General Election and yet the gloves are off again and the fight for the hearts and minds of the voters is again in full swing.
But there’s a big difference this time it is a single issue – membership of the European Union. No need to weigh up whether the economy counts for more than the NHS or housing more important than transport or as the question as to which party has the most coherent, affordable and achievable set of policies this time it’s a straightforward Stay or Leave.
Well, of course, it’s not as straightforward as all that; it is in fact a massive decision the outcome of which will determine the direction of our country for the next generation. Should we, as the Prime Minister believes, pool our sovereignty to deliver a more secure and prosperous future or as the Leave campaign believes regain our sovereignty so that we can determine who enters our country and who we pay benefits to without the interference of Brussels and the European Court of Justice.
Britain is the most successful economy in the EU and therefore becomes the magnet for those seeking a better life. Of course it’s good that we are so successful and controlled immigration is necessary to fill the gaps in some of the professions in which we are experiencing shortages. The key point is that it must be controlled and that our own government, parliament and courts can determine the limits.
We are a net contributor to the EU budget; far better that we use those resources in our schools, in the Health Service, on flood defences and so much more.
I don’t believe that we have anything to fear from leaving. We have some of the finest companies and universities, London is the financial capital of Europe – free from being in the Eurozone. Our security rests on our membership of NATO not the EU and we retain the ultimate deterrent – Trident.
The political elites pushed us into Europe, then the European Monetary system that led to Black Wednesday and recession. They then wanted us to join the Euro and are now arguing for us to stay in this wretched Club. They were wrong on all of these big issues and now it’s up to every one of us; David Cameron will have one vote and so will every one of us; it’s going to be a fascinating four months with the Attorney-General on one side and the Lord Chancellor on the other. Secretaries of State one side and their junior ministers on the other.
Bearing in mind the sell-out of the fishing industry in the original 1973 negotiations it’s worth noting that the current Fisheries Minister George Eustace is on the Leave side. And of course there is a joker in the pack: Boris.
In the week that Jeremy Corbyn’s dress sense was called into question we saw Boris Johnson arrive in Downing Street looking more like Benny from Crossroads (for those of you with a long memory) than a potential prime minister – and yet he can get away with it. Whether he could get away with it as the actual prime minister is perhaps more doubtful.
Last week I had a shadow – a civil servant shadowing me for a couple of days. I took part in an excellent scheme that allows a civil servant to shadow an MP and learn more about their role. It also gives MPs an opportunity to gain a greater insight into the world of the Civil Service. This was no senior mandarin akin to Yes Minister’s Sir Humphrey but a middle–ranking official from DVLA in Swansea. Most of us will have had dealings with this Government Agency when licensing our cars but they also perform a wider range of regulatory functions connected with drivers and vehicle licensing. She went away engrossed in a copy of Hansard – the word-for-word daily report of proceedings in Parliament having witnessed the theatre of Prime Minister’s Questions, a superb debate about our role in Europe and the world, committee proceedings and a debate in the second chamber – Westminster Hall about disabilities, poverty and inequalities.
The magic of Westminster had rubbed off on her after only a couple of days.