Statement by TUV Euro candidate Jim Allister MLA:-
“This election presents not only the opportunity to better your representation in Brussels, but to have your say on a key national issue: our future relationship with the EU.
“It is shameful that after over 40 years of the EU being a huge drain on our national resources, the people of the United Kingdom are being denied a referendum on our membership. TUV demands an in/out referendum.
“As UK taxpayers we pour £17billion into Brussels and even with the rebate and grants we get back barely half. This has how it has been for 40 years. Here are the figures for 2013 from the Treasury (Cm 8740):
In Out
UK contribution …. £17.184billion. UK rebate …. £3.324 billion
EU grants …. £5.237 billion
Net cost: £8,624,000,00.00
“This translates into a staggering daily cost of £23.6million or £1million every hour! In addition, EU membership is robbing us of the right to make our own decisions on such vital matters as immigration, trade agreements and social policy.
“TUV believes in the political unity, prosperity and independence of the United Kingdom, not in Brussels diktats. Thus we strongly believe the UK would be BETTER OFF OUT! And, so we repudiate the relentless push for ‘ever closer union’ within the EU. TUV believes in the defence of national sovereignty, not its destruction.
“This is the battle I will resume in Brussels, if elected on 22nd May.”