BC: When did you first come to the view that the UK would be better off out of the EU? Did you ever think that the EU could be reformed from within to make membership tolerable for the UK? Tell us how your views developed over time on the issue.
In 1985/86 when I was first on the European Select Committee and saw the reality of what was an undemocratic system at work. I never believed that it was possible to reform the EU from within because of the centralised legal framework requiring unanimity to change the laws. My views accelerated at the time of Maastricht and I promoted the rebellion because Maastricht created European government, overriding our parliamentary democracy and parliamentary government, by our abdicating our sovereignty, as did the Lisbon Treaty as well. My first sovereignty amendment was on the Single European Act in June 1986, which is now replicated in Section 38 of the European Union Withdrawal Agreement Act. I was not even allowed to debate the issue of sovereignty in June 1986. My opposition to European integration has always been one step at a time. It is about self-government, democracy and sovereignty. Please read his reflections on Brexit here.
