Andrew Lewer

I was “on balance” a Brexit supporter. And I believe Britain’s decision to leave the European Union was the right one.

It was good to hear Theresa May confirm on becoming Prime Minister that “Brexit means Brexit” and that no second referendum would follow.

Her announcement of the Brexit timetable is very welcome. Although there should be no doubt that there is a lot of work and skilled negotiations ahead to get the best deal for the UK and Europe.

My opinion may have been very different had the European elite listened to what the UK was looking for in the renegotiation. It was a missed opportunity to secure much-needed changes to create an effective and efficient EU for all its members – not just the UK.

But instead in true EU-style we were given short shrift. The changes we wanted were largely ignored and The European Project continues to press ahead towards an ever-closer union.

That was the fundamental mistake of Mr Juncker et al. We did not ask for much – not enough in my opinion. But the UK was not alone in wanting the EU to rein back its power and let national governments govern.

Now it is likely that others will follow our lead and review their membership of the EU. The Italian banking crisis will gather pace with implications up to and including the collapse of the Euro. An expansion of the ‘Social Pillar’ of legislation will render the EU even more centralised and uncompetitive.

I have always said it is important we act carefully and reasonably to plan and negotiate our exit. Theresa May has shown that is what she intends will happen.

Brexit does not mean we are turning our back on our European neighbours. Rather, we have chosen to take control of our own destiny and to cooperate and work together.

Indeed, almost to seek a return to the EU’s roots (at least those that were emphasised at the last EU referendum in 1975): Strong trade links, a secure and peaceful community.

I firmly believe we can maintain and develop mutually beneficial relationships across Europe and beyond to strengthen trade, security and cultural opportunities.

We must not forget our UK credentials. We are the world’s fifth largest economy with a proven track record of innovation and success. And we remain a key player on the world stage as a member of NATO, the UN Security Council and G7.

Brexit means we can take a close look at what we want the UK to look like. It is our chance to revitalise, reform and improve. It is an opportunity to rationalise and modernise rules and regulations. It is the chance to rid ourselves of the unnecessary interference which hampers our ambitions and ties our hands.

Brexit was unexpected. Even our Prime Minister did not expect it. But I believe she has shown considerable leadership in taking the agenda forward in response to the result.

Her performance at this week’s Conservative Party Conference has shown she is listening and is setting a refreshing new direction for the government. She has big ambitions for a Global Britain as an independent sovereign country with control over immigration and freedom to pass our own laws.

None of it will be easy. I will do all I can to support the Brexit negotiation teams and highlight EU spending and investment programmes that are useful and successful – as well as those that are not. And I will draw attention to those EU rules and regulations in need of urgent and worthwhile reform.

This is our opportunity to create a new-look UK. We have control of our future and the Prime Minister is clear she expects everyone to share in a brighter future.

I was an active supporter of the Brexit campaign. It was my view that unless the EU was fundamentally reformed then we should leave. It was a position similar to that of very many people.

With no new ideas coming from the EU institutions, it was clear to me that their objective of an ever-closer economic, monetary and political union was here to stay.

Previous and more recent events confirmed my view that the European Union lacks effective leadership. The idea that a future inside the EU would have been a model of calm and safe status quo is not borne out by recent history. Over the last decade it has lurched from unpredictable crisis to unpredictable crisis.

I believe it is better to have the ability to react, adapt and change. And that is why I think the UK is right to leave the EU.

Even now, the EU’s response to the many crises it continues to face is chaotic, proposing just one solution – “more Europe”. Only recently, there have been calls at the highest levels for an EU army as well as plans to impose a “social pillar” to further reduce the ability of national governments to govern.

We had an opportunity at the renegotiation stage to seek big changes to the way the European Union is run. But it was a missed opportunity to create an effective and efficient EU for all its members – not just the UK.

Brexit means we can take a close look at what we want the UK to look like. I believe it is our chance to revitalise, reform and improve.

It is our opportunity to rationalise and modernise rules and regulations. It is our moment to restore local sovereignty with a bigger role and greater responsibilities for reformed local councils.

My role as an MEP is not over. There remains a big job for all MEPs to deliver. I aim to do what I can to assist efforts to get the best deal for the UK. I will be:

• Offering my knowledge and expertise to the negotiation teams
• Highlighting EU spending and investment programmes that are useful and successful – as well as those that are not
• Drawing attention to those EU rules and regulations in need of urgent and worthwhile reform
• Maintaining and developing close cultural and educational links with our European partners
• Ensuring East Midlands businesses, farmers, students and communities have good access to and information about EU funds while we are members and are able to contribute to the debate about what comes next

Brexit was unexpected. But I believe we now have a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a new-look UK. It will need careful deliberation and national debate. And it will not happen overnight – but it is worth taking the time to get it right.

It is worth remembering: we now have control of our future, the chance to change, to learn from past mistakes and all share in a brighter future.”