Speech by Cllr Timothy Gaston.
The 23rd June 2016. Mr Chairman, friends, remember that date. It is a day that will go down in history. It is a day that the people of the UK, together, cast their vote to leave the European Union. It is a day in which the people of the UK decided that the UK should be able to decide its own destiny, and not be subservient to the bureaucratic mess of the EU. It was the peoples’ victory.
This party played a vital role since its formation in 2007 in making sure that the Eurosceptic voice was heard within Northern Ireland. No one had any doubt about where TUV stood on EU membership when it came to the Euro election. We, unlike ALL the other parties, were always clear that the UK was better off out. In the Assembly, it was only our party leader, Jim Allister, who continuously highlighted the burden of being in the EU for our farmers, fishermen and businesses. In Local Government our Councillors, often to the derision of others, routinely highlighted the impact membership of the EU was having on local services due to uncontrolled migration. This party stood firm in our principles of campaigning to exit the EU.
And no one is suggesting we asked for any money to adopt that position. What did the people have to overcome? The majority of the media fed us continually news of economic misery if we left, painted Euroscepticism as racist. Mr Chairman, there is nothing racist about a sovereign nation controlling migration into the country. Then we had the poor millionaire celebrities who lectured us on the perils of leaving the EU for the working classes – who can forget Bob Geldof giving hard up fishermen verbal abuse as they sailed down the Thames? The arrogance and removal from everyday realities facing hard working people was breath-taking.
We had a Prime Minister and Chancellor who told us we would have World War III.
We were going to tip not just the UK but the world into recession.
We were, as one Brussel’s bureaucrat put it, going to end Western civilisation.
Well against all the odds we’ve survived the Berxit apocalypse.
In fact, we appear to be doing rather well. Stock markets have continued to perform well, even seeing modest increases. The pound, after much speculating prior to the vote has continued to stabilise. Times are good for exporters who have since significant increases, particularly in manufacturing.
And what about all these jobs disappearing to the EU -such as financial services? Well, the UK remains the place to be. The biggest single problem facing the UK is that our great nation is being talked down by those who lost the referendum. Every time we hear a good news story – it is always given an odd clarification – in spite of Brexit. All patriots should talk up what the UK has to offer, we are a huge trading nation, have a skilled workforce, ideally positioned to take advantage of any opportunity. Why talk ourselves down? Some would think the remoaners want us to fail – to cut off their nose to spite their face.
Now, Mr Chairman, we have legal action taken the prevent the new Prime Minister, Theresa May, from invoking Article 50. When parliament backed a referendum they promised to act on the result.
The people have spoken. Get on with it!
Democracy delivers results that at one time or the other will not be one which you want to support, but you respect that people have voted accordingly. All the moaners out there, claiming it was invalid, or that – most condescending of all – people did not know what they voted for. Can their opinion of people get any more condescending?
Mr Chairman, I knew what I was voting for, as I expect everybody in this room did. As for talk of a second referendum, it is almost as if they just want to re-run it until they get the answer they want. Do you think the same people would be asking for a second referendum if the UK had voted to remain? Of course not! It is because the bubble has burst, they have released they have been out of touch with the ordinary man and women of this country.
Brexit means Brexit. It is now for the government to negotiate the exit and future arrangements with the EU. It is not a buffet, where you pick and choose your future relationship – it is negotiation – you do not show your cards. Get the best deal possible.
What of the EU? Well, we hear mixed messages. Some saying they should treat the UK as a friend and get a good deal. Then you get the Europhiles who think the UK should be punished for daring to let the people have a say. The EU is beyond saving. Beyond redemption. The main reason people voted to leave was rather simple – we have been on the inside and saw what it is all about. Corruption, greed, not responding to genuine concerns. More countries will follow the UK’s lead.
The referendum is also noteworthy in that it did not follow party political lines. The Conservatives were split, Labour was detached from the voters in their core heartlands, and the Lib Dems were, well irrelevant.
Closer to home the UUP were split, with their party endorsing the remain campaign and seemingly many supporters backing leave. Then we had Simon Hamilton of the DUP who won’t not say which way he voted.
What this demonstrates is that many people used their own conscience on the matter regardless of which party they would normally endorse.
This is significant. The lesson all can take from this is: listen to the people. I have called this the peoples’ victory, for that is exactly what it is.