FOR 42 years the chains of bureaucracy and the closed door nature of European diplomacy has dealt us what?

It has dealt us the joker of the pack, with a loss of £8bn and 200,000 immigrants coming per year, we have lost the very essence of free trade, we have lost our borders and we have lost power being in the EU.

Britain achieved much as an independent state, it was one of the first nations to abolish slavery, it liberated and defended other nations in the face of two world wars and it helped to de-escalate the political stalemate of the cold war. 

The United Kingdom is a tribute to political, diplomatic and military sacrifice, suffering and success. 

Europe does not know how to unify separate, sovereign states.

Napoleon Bonaparte tried to unify Europe through his French-controlled European Empire, but he came up against opposition led by Britain and an end in 1815.

Adolf Hitler tried later on to unify Europe under totalitarianism and tyranny, but was opposed and defeated by Britain and the allies in 1945.

And now I see a European union once again trying to unify Europe, this time under a socialist, economic and political union. 

But I want to say in 10 years’ time, look again, once more Britain defied common European unification and sought for independence. 

Many millions of men and women have sacrificed themselves against the titans of Europe in past conflicts. 

They fought by bullet, blood and bravery for freedom.

To sell our sovereignty is to sell their soul. 

In the 1600s, the English Civil war saw men, women and children die so to broker power between monarchy and parliament. 

This lit the candle for a constitutional monarchy, a status which the United Kingdom continues to hold. 

To have our parliament, our monarchy sidelined by European bureaucracy and control is not acceptable or constitutional. 

We are learning now, that through technology and reforms, devolution can be brought to help individuals in society.

Healthcare, education, transport and social security can all be improved and supported through devolution. 

So why does a socially minded Europe want to be a centralised power snatcher in Brussels?

It wants control and power over the entirety of Europe, so as competition is minimal, so free trade is minimal and so equality is minimal. 

Minimisation of independence and a move to dependency on the EU for trade, competition and justice is what they thrive for. 

Being a social, economic and political union, the EU was expected to help build partnerships and to increase living standards across Europe. 

However instead, the EU has supported policies of austerity, the demonising of poverty and has destroyed small business. 

The EU has imposed costly regulations on small business and the opening of borders putting further pressure on wages and unemployment within nations. 

Through integration, the closer to federalisation of Europe, the blanket of economic austerity will sweep Europe as Greece, Spain and Italy fall, followed by others under the United States of Europe. 

Free enterprise would end, segregation of rich and poor would occur and the monopoly of big business would be welcomed. 

There is a much longer future after June 23, the stock market, GDP and the economy may fall in the short term.

Yet in the long term the economy will grow, GDP could go up by four to eight per cent and the stock market would bounce back. 

To be bolder, we must be braver. 

To strive for independence is a jump for freedom. 

Man took risks to come from his cave, Britain must take risks to secure its borders, its trade and its sovereignty. 

We can leave the union, but love Europe.

So to the EU I say goodbye and to independence within Europe I say bonjour, hola and hallo. 

Britain should be independent and not sidelined by European regulations. 

This is a human tale, this about people, so I say let Britain ignore the global establishment and let it be for freedom, liberty and sovereignty. 

GEORGE RICHMOND
Chedworth