WHY NIGEL LAWSON WANTS

BRITAIN TO LEAVE

EUROPE

THATCHER'S CHANCELLOR SAYS EU IS A 'BUREAUCRATIC

MONSTROSITY' WITH 'CONTEMPT' FOR DEMOCRACY

MARGARET THATCHER'S chancellor Lord (Nigel) Lawson has called for Britain to leave the

European Union. In a 2,000-word essay for The Times, Lawson quotes Keynes to explain why he will

vote 'no' in any forthcoming referendum on the UK's EU membership - "When the facts change, I

change my mind". Here are Lawson's five reasons why Britain should quit:

Nigel LawsonPoliticianNigel Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby, PC, is a British Conservative politician and journalist. He was a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Blaby from 1974–92, and served in the Thatcher Cabinet from 1981 to 1989

THE UNITED STATES OF EUROPE

Lawson argues that the EU "project" has a clear purpose – to create a federal European super-

state. Such an objective does not just demonstrate the EU's contempt for democracy, it is also

"profoundly misguided" and not in the British interest.

THE EURO MAKES THINGS WORSE

The advent of the euro has "fundamentally changed" Britain's position in the EU. Monetary union

among 17 out of 27 EU member states means the UK and others are becoming increasingly

marginalised and are doomed to being consistently outvoted by the eurozone bloc.

BRITISH BUSINESS NEEDS GLOBAL CHALLENGES

The trade advantages of being in the single market are marginal, says Lawson, but British industry

feels too "secure" in the EU instead of looking at export opportunities in the developing world.

Leaving an institution that has achieved its historic purpose and is now "past its sell-by date"

could force a much-needed change of focus.

THINGS CAN'T ONLY GET BETTER

David Cameron has already embarked on "preliminary" talks with fellow EU members to help

renegotiate improved terms for Britain, as former prime minister Harold Wilson did before the

1975 referendum. But Lawson argues any changes the prime minister can secure ahead of a

proposed 2017 in/out vote will be "inconsequential" and "trivial".

A MAJOR ECONOMIC PLUS

Aside from saving £8 billion per year on the UK's membership fee, Lawson argues there is another

clear economic benefit to leaving the EU: the City will gain from being outside the "frenzy of

regulatory activism". Rather than damaging our economy, an escape from the EU's "mandatory

nonsense" would be a major economic plus for Lawson, who argues that the financial transaction

tax and the EU's other regulatory efforts are motivated by a jealous desire to cut London down to

size and partially by "well-intentioned ignorance".

REFERENCE

• The Week. (2013). Why Nigel Lawson wants Britain to leave Europe. Available:

http://www.theweek.co.uk/politics/52864/nigel-lawson-britain-leave-european-union-

margaret-thatcher. Last accessed 7th May 2013.