The EU is not democratic. It shares this feature with China and Russia

Iset up the European Research Group in July 1993 towards the end of the Maastricht furore. It comprised Conservative MPS who were concerned about the direction being taken by the EU towards becoming a federal state. The group was formed on the presumption that the most effective way of at least modifying this process was by working internally within the Conservative Party rather than, for instance, setting up a rival party such as UKIP. We hired Daniel Hannan, my research assistant – now MEP – as our coordinator/researcher.

The three words European Research Group are the stuff of a public relations executive’s nightmare. The reality is rather different. The ERG has form. It can be claimed that the group’s parliamentary battles contributed greatly to the fact that Britain retained its own currency. From the start, part of ERG’S brief was to inform with factual analysis as well as to persuade. To that extent its title accurately describes its purpose – and still does.

I have retained contact with ERG. They invite me to some of their meetings, but I cannot claim these days to be a full member, let alone to speak for the group. What I do know is that under Jacob Rees-mogg MP, their brilliant new chairman, they constitute a powerful parliamentary voting factor and are therefore to be regarded very seriously, collectively and individually, when it comes to the final votes on the Brexit draft legislation, amended as it undoubtedly will be in the House of Lords.

Whatever happens, ultimately it will come down to the votes in Parliament, of which ERG members will have 50. This is why it is so important that the Conservative Party becomes clear as to its final intent. It is therefore worth considering what may be the elements which determine their votes.

I personally believe that trade matters will play in the end a very small part. The issue of tariffs will certainly be capable of being sorted out under World Trade Organisation rules. If the European Union were simply a trade area, a “common market”, I cannot think of any reason why we would wish to leave it.

But the European Union is not merely a common market. In its very constitution it is defined as an ever closer union. Nowhere in the constitution of the EU is there a direct relationship between the electorate and the government. The EU therefore is not democratic. It shares this feature with China and Russia.

By leaving the European Union Britain would restore the key element of democracy. This central point was effectively recognised at the British referendum. Any reversal of this would be to deny the legitimacy of the referendum.

Nor can there realistically be half a democracy. You are either in a democratic country or you are not.