The work on this new covenant between the British people and its government must start now to have any hope of being ready in time.
If there were to be a referendum on our EU membership tomorrow it would almost certainly be lost - as the british people would not vote for a complete unknown. A vision of a modern independent UK is needed - people need something to actively vote for.
The UK has been a member of the EU for over 40 years, it has leached into our institutions, traditions, law and lives. It would be foolish to think that it could be removed, that we could leave, and everything would carry on as if we had never been members.
There are many questions and issues that need to be addressed - many are likely to be contentious and divisive - even among the most ardent anti-EU campaigners.
If no such vision exists then the UK and its people is laying itself open to be hijacked, and our EU exit could lead us into something far worse.
It would be possible to spend many lifetimes discussing (arguing) over every minute detail of UK after EU - and as the EU is a moving target, the discussions may not even keep pace - the EU could create new questions issues faster than old and existing ones are addressed.
To prevent this work delaying a UK exit from the EU, I think it is vital that a mechanism is put in place to allow the people to be directly and rapidly consulted on issues arrising and to make their choice. This mechanism would be the only pre-requisit of leaving - as it could be used to settle every other matter.
The recent (happening as I type!) departure of Geoffrey Bloom as a UKIP MEP shows how important it is that UK's exit from the EU cannot be intrinsicly tied to a set of absolute polices that will always alianate one section of the public or another.
Once the UK is independent then new, better, democratic systems need to be put in place, and from there on it will be the people who decide.
The work on this new covenant between the British people and its government must start now to have any hope of being ready in time.
First published at http://free-english-people.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/vision-for-independent-uk-needed-now.html
Blogger is an author at Bloggers4UKIP.
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Kev · 600 weeks ago
Time to start thinking outside of the box and this could lead to life outside the EU
@pperrin · 600 weeks ago
We need a mechanism that (pretty much) everyone can agree to - and then use that to allow 'the people' to decide how things go forwards.
euneindanke 90p · 600 weeks ago
The work on this new covenant between the British people and its government must start now to have any hope of being ready in time.
The work started some time ago Paul, all that is needed now is for UKIP to sign up to it.
http://harrogateagenda.org.uk/
Independent UKIP · 600 weeks ago
euneindanke 90p · 600 weeks ago
@pperrin · 600 weeks ago
euneindanke 90p · 600 weeks ago
@pperrin · 600 weeks ago
The Harrogate thing looks pompous and amateurish to me. On about 'we' etc but no mention of who 'we' refers to, no mention of what 'harrogate' has to do with anything... What is the unique, creative input that makes it something new and deserving of a name?
I really have no idea of what it is supposed to be offering, or who is actually offering it...
euneindanke 90p · 600 weeks ago
I'm saddened that you dismiss the ideas out of hand though. They were ideas crystallised from a full day spent (in a Harrogate hotel's conference centre) discussing what is wrong with our democracy and ways in which it could be put right. Although he was present they are not Richard North's ideas, they are conclusions of around 30 people, including several UKIP members, seeking exactly the vision you refer to above. What exactly do you think is pompous and amateurish about them? Is it because you don't think that ultimately the sovereignty of this country lies with the people?
idltdvirtm 103p · 600 weeks ago
As it stands it looks like one mans demands that could have been plucked out of the air.
euneindanke 90p · 600 weeks ago
idltdvirtm 103p · 600 weeks ago
euneindanke 90p · 600 weeks ago
Yes, and the Bloom that is still a party member and likely to continue to play a prominent role once he furore over "slutgate" dies down.
Independent UKIP · 600 weeks ago
The Harrogate Agenda is a revolutionary group seeking the overthrow of the entire existing political order. That isn't some flowery ideal. That is your intent though I accept there is no intention of it being a violent revolutionary group. It is relying on there being enough supporters to force the peaceful overthrow the government, remove all the parliamentarians, remove the senior officers of Bradford Council etc, etc. It rejects wholesale the existing ways in which UKIP operates. For UKIP to be a part it would need to acknowledge the irrelevance of its current parliamentary activity and work to take power with Harrogate initially without any reference to the ballot box but to getting enough people on the streets to take power from those who have won it at the ballot box. And this you think would not be the end of UKIP as we know it?!
No doubt you will quibble at some of the above but please be wary of North. He despite his great intelligence (or because of it?) is a convicted criminal with a prison record. Harrogate won't be publicising that presumably but my worry is his plans will lead you down the exact path - nicking leaflets for vulnerable people from public buildings isn't likely to endear you to the local constabulary but that is one of things North has in mind for you.
Roger Jones · 574 weeks ago