Relations with our neighbours

tion, when everything possible has been done to reach a new settlement that maximises the benefits of membership for the UK, I am certain that the British people will have a genuine choice at the ballot box in 2017. benefits without the membership. That’s not true. The conditions will still be forced on us.

We just won’t have a say because we won’t be at the table.

People say we don’t have enough influence now. We’ll have none at all, if we leave the European Union.

We need to be there to fight our corner.

To p r o t e c t o u r Br i t i s h interests. with other countries to solve our problems and support our economy.

We a r e a l s o m a k i n g s ure t hat we i ncreas e our trade to growing count r i e s out s i de Europe, l i ke China, India and Brazil.

But only by being a strong player i n Europe can we be a strong player on the world stage.

L e a v i n g G e r ma ny a n d France to make the rules for Europe without us would be to our detriment.

What UKIP don’ t s ay i s Britain will l ose up 2.2 per cent of i t s GDP i f i t l eaves Europe unless i t c ommits to f re e trad e a n d s l a s h e s r e g u l at i o n t o e x t e nt t h at i t ma k e s t h e l at e B a r o n - ess Thatcher ‘look like a socialist’.

Britain will be forced to have even more open borders if it leaves the European Union or face losing up to £55 billion a year by 2030.

L i b e r a l De mocrat s a r e working to achieve EU reform to make it more competitive, ef f i ci ent and accountable. Boosting Britain’s trade with countries round the world, making our economy stronger.

Green The Green Party’s policy on Europe is simple.

We b e l i e ve t h e Br i t i s h people should be allowed a free and open referendum on Europe.

We believe the European government has become too removed from the people it claims to represent.

Too often it represents instead the interests of powerful corporations or sub-groups within the European power structure itself.

We beli eve t hat powers should always be devolved to the level of government closest to people. So while some things are best done i n cooperation with our closest neighbours and largest trading partners, others should be brought back home. In the referendum the Green Party would argue to stay in Europe but seek very radical reform rather than leave.

The reason is that we feel l eav i ng Europe would not make us more independent at all, but would leave us more controlled by America.

We believe the so called ‘special relationship’ has become a largely one sided and abusive one. The main emphasis of the EU should be on co-operating to bring about sustainable and democratic prosperity, rather than being dominated by money and unrestricted growth. UKIP will call a referendum on leaving the EU before the end of 2015. We would also:

Review all legislation and regulations from the EU (3,600 new laws since 2010) and remove those which hamper British prosperity and competitiveness.

We would negotiate a bespoke trade agreement with the EU to enable our businesses to continue trading to mutual advantage.

Do not seek to remain in the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) or European Economic Area (EEA) while those treaties maintain a principle of free movement of labour, which prevents the UK from managing its own borders.

We would reoccupy the UK’s vacant seat at the World Trade Organisation, ensuring that we continue to enjoy ‘most favoured nation’ status in trade with the EU, as is required under WTO rules.

Leave the EU and save at least £8bn per annum in net contributions.

Students from the EU will pay the same student fee rates as i nternational s tudents.