In just three weeks time around 45 million people will have the chance to decide the future of our great nation. It will be only the third time that the British public have been asked to take part in a nationwide referendum and it is undoubtedly the most significant political decision any of us are likely to make in our lifetimes. Of course many millions of us, myself included, have already voted by post but with the polls fluctuating daily and only a few percentage points between Leave and Remain it is likely to come down to turnout on the day. Obviously the referendum question is about our continued membership of the European Union, but to my mind it is about some much broader issues that simply our membership of a single geo-political organisation. It is about the type of country we are, about how we can build on our proud heritage and most importantly our place in the world for future generations. All political campaigns have the ability to become unpleasantly personal and this one certainly has. Much is said on both sides of the argument that I find distasteful and strongly disagree with. The cry goes up "we want more facts". The truth is there are very few facts. There are opinions, arguments, assessments, guesses even. Every one of us has to consider the arguments from our own perspective and make up our own minds. For many it will be a difficult decision, but who said democracy was easy - it just happens to be worth it. 
So for me this isn't just about red-tape coming from the European Union. Of course there is lots, much of it ridiculous. British civil servants however have centuries more experience than European bureaucrats at dreaming up unhelpful regulations. The difference is that we can hold our governments to account. The argument is not solely about the billions of pounds paid every year to the EU by British taxpayers. The sums are vast whichever side you believe, but they are still relatively small in terms of the national budget. The problem with being handed back £5bn thanks to Margaret Thatcher's rebate, and another £4bn in farming subsidies is that we have again lost control. The rebate will constantly be up for renegotiation. Many people think the Common Agricultural Policy has failed and we could support our own farming industry much better ourselves. The truth is that inside the EU we can only ever play a bit part in deciding how our money is spent. A great example of this lack of control is the so called 'tampon tax'. Following a very public campaign to scrap the 5% VAT on sanitary products the most the Government could initially offer was to give the money raised to charity. Eventually there was an announcement that a deal had been reached - success! Only a deal hasn't been reached. The European Commission has published an 'action plan' that says there will be proposals in 2017 under which Member States could be granted a greater degree of autonomy. So the 'tampon tax' might be abolished, at some point in the future, if the 27 other members states say we can. Of course international cooperation is hugely important and no government is entirely free to do everything it wants to in the real world, but here is a great example of how something simple like reducing the price of a box of tampons by 15 pence is now beyond the ability of Her Majesty's Treasury. At least it was a great victory for British influence in Europe to get it on the agenda though - or was it? The offer of possibly giving more freedom to Member States was in fact the final point added on to the Action Plan on VAT, the main substance of which is to create a single European VAT area. In other words we might get one small concession tagged on the end of further integration. Migration has been the hot topic of the debate for many people, along with all of the connotations that brings. It is undoubtedly a significant issue to some people and in some parts of the country. It is also perceived to be an even bigger issue by an even larger number of people. To characterise the debate as being about the number of foreigners crossing our borders is to hugely over simplify the matter. Much of our history and economy is build on the movement of people, but whilst it is ridiculous to claim that we should shut our door to the world, it is also impractical to be entirely open to all without limits or qualifications. The fact the even Schengen area countries have imposed restrictions in recent month shows that all nations value control. For me one of the most damaging impacts of unlimited EU migration is the effect it has on migration from elsewhere in the world. By numbers, migration from the other 27 EU member states forms around half of those coming to the country. Whilst any government tries to limit the overall number it means that additional undue pressure is placed on immigration from outside of the EU. If you cannot control one half of the equation, the controls on the other half have to be even tougher. We trade and indeed travel extremely successfully to other parts of the world without the need for a complete free movement of people. Many Brits seek work in Australia (indeed if the BMA were to be believed only a month ago the majority of junior doctors had their bags packed) despite the need for a visa. Our business and cultural links with the US are enhanced by the being part of the Visa Waiver Programme, but the US congress doesn't insist on controlling the taxation on tampons in return. There are huge benefits to migration, there are also huge challenges, neither side of the argument should be dismissed. What is needed in order to address those challenges for the benefit of the entire country and indeed those migrants themselves, is the ability of sovereign governments to set policies that have the consent of the people and meet the needs of the economy. Trade and the economy have been the lead for the Remain campaign but with depressingly predictable short termism. The focus is all on the next few years or the coming months or even the days after the result. Where is the vision for the next generation? I have no doubt that should the British public decide to leave on 23rd June that Sterling will dip on 24th June, we all know how much the markets hate uncertainty. I also have no doubt that the markets will recover - and in pretty short order in my opinion. Of course the state of the economy over the remaining months of 2016 will affect many of us, but much more important is Britain's ability to be a successful global trading power for decades to come. Many of those who so strongly opposed the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) now seem to think it is the only option open to the UK. Of course we can successfully negotiate trade deals outside of the EU or indeed with the EU. Of course these will be exactly that: negotiations, we won't get everything our way. Our hand will be much stronger however when we are negotiating for our interests not balancing the needs of our dairy farmers with the demands of German pig farmers or British Insurers against the requests from German car manufacturers. Too often the huge negotiating machine of the EU hasn't led to greater bargaining power but instead the lowest common denominator. The EU may be fine for the other 27 and the growing number of other countries wanting to join, if they are happy to trade democracy, accountability and sovereignty for a small slice of the common agricultural policy or the removal of mobile phone roaming charges. Britain is a strong and powerful nation. We have much to offer the world, including continental Europe. I believe that we can play that role on the global stage and our governments can better serve the people who elect them by being outside of the European Union. The decision that we all have to make by 23rd June is a huge one. Either way it will affect the British population, probably for generations. The Remain side highlight that a vote to leave is forever - good, I welcome it. Forever is a long time and who knows what will happen, but I am confident that a strong outward looking nation like ours will stand the test of time if given the ability to govern itself and defend the interests of its people. Don't forget the other side of that coin. A vote to stay is forever. Permanent. There is no likelihood of another referendum in our lifetime or even our childrens' lifetimes. Even if there were, the same depressing, defeatist arguments would be deployed: it's uncertain, you'll get a couple of Euros less on the exchange rate next time you go on holiday for a week in France, the EU can change if only we give it another chance. This really is a once in a generation opportunity. Believe in Britain. Stronger, more open, more confident, more successful. Vote Leave!
So for me this isn't just about red-tape coming from the European Union. Of course there is lots, much of it ridiculous. British civil servants however have centuries more experience than European bureaucrats at dreaming up unhelpful regulations. The difference is that we can hold our governments to account. The argument is not solely about the billions of pounds paid every year to the EU by British taxpayers. The sums are vast whichever side you believe, but they are still relatively small in terms of the national budget. The problem with being handed back £5bn thanks to Margaret Thatcher's rebate, and another £4bn in farming subsidies is that we have again lost control. The rebate will constantly be up for renegotiation. Many people think the Common Agricultural Policy has failed and we could support our own farming industry much better ourselves. The truth is that inside the EU we can only ever play a bit part in deciding how our money is spent. A great example of this lack of control is the so called 'tampon tax'. Following a very public campaign to scrap the 5% VAT on sanitary products the most the Government could initially offer was to give the money raised to charity. Eventually there was an announcement that a deal had been reached - success! Only a deal hasn't been reached. The European Commission has published an 'action plan' that says there will be proposals in 2017 under which Member States could be granted a greater degree of autonomy. So the 'tampon tax' might be abolished, at some point in the future, if the 27 other members states say we can. Of course international cooperation is hugely important and no government is entirely free to do everything it wants to in the real world, but here is a great example of how something simple like reducing the price of a box of tampons by 15 pence is now beyond the ability of Her Majesty's Treasury. At least it was a great victory for British influence in Europe to get it on the agenda though - or was it? The offer of possibly giving more freedom to Member States was in fact the final point added on to the Action Plan on VAT, the main substance of which is to create a single European VAT area. In other words we might get one small concession tagged on the end of further integration. Migration has been the hot topic of the debate for many people, along with all of the connotations that brings. It is undoubtedly a significant issue to some people and in some parts of the country. It is also perceived to be an even bigger issue by an even larger number of people. To characterise the debate as being about the number of foreigners crossing our borders is to hugely over simplify the matter. Much of our history and economy is build on the movement of people, but whilst it is ridiculous to claim that we should shut our door to the world, it is also impractical to be entirely open to all without limits or qualifications. The fact the even Schengen area countries have imposed restrictions in recent month shows that all nations value control. For me one of the most damaging impacts of unlimited EU migration is the effect it has on migration from elsewhere in the world. By numbers, migration from the other 27 EU member states forms around half of those coming to the country. Whilst any government tries to limit the overall number it means that additional undue pressure is placed on immigration from outside of the EU. If you cannot control one half of the equation, the controls on the other half have to be even tougher. We trade and indeed travel extremely successfully to other parts of the world without the need for a complete free movement of people. Many Brits seek work in Australia (indeed if the BMA were to be believed only a month ago the majority of junior doctors had their bags packed) despite the need for a visa. Our business and cultural links with the US are enhanced by the being part of the Visa Waiver Programme, but the US congress doesn't insist on controlling the taxation on tampons in return. There are huge benefits to migration, there are also huge challenges, neither side of the argument should be dismissed. What is needed in order to address those challenges for the benefit of the entire country and indeed those migrants themselves, is the ability of sovereign governments to set policies that have the consent of the people and meet the needs of the economy. Trade and the economy have been the lead for the Remain campaign but with depressingly predictable short termism. The focus is all on the next few years or the coming months or even the days after the result. Where is the vision for the next generation? I have no doubt that should the British public decide to leave on 23rd June that Sterling will dip on 24th June, we all know how much the markets hate uncertainty. I also have no doubt that the markets will recover - and in pretty short order in my opinion. Of course the state of the economy over the remaining months of 2016 will affect many of us, but much more important is Britain's ability to be a successful global trading power for decades to come. Many of those who so strongly opposed the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) now seem to think it is the only option open to the UK. Of course we can successfully negotiate trade deals outside of the EU or indeed with the EU. Of course these will be exactly that: negotiations, we won't get everything our way. Our hand will be much stronger however when we are negotiating for our interests not balancing the needs of our dairy farmers with the demands of German pig farmers or British Insurers against the requests from German car manufacturers. Too often the huge negotiating machine of the EU hasn't led to greater bargaining power but instead the lowest common denominator. The EU may be fine for the other 27 and the growing number of other countries wanting to join, if they are happy to trade democracy, accountability and sovereignty for a small slice of the common agricultural policy or the removal of mobile phone roaming charges. Britain is a strong and powerful nation. We have much to offer the world, including continental Europe. I believe that we can play that role on the global stage and our governments can better serve the people who elect them by being outside of the European Union. The decision that we all have to make by 23rd June is a huge one. Either way it will affect the British population, probably for generations. The Remain side highlight that a vote to leave is forever - good, I welcome it. Forever is a long time and who knows what will happen, but I am confident that a strong outward looking nation like ours will stand the test of time if given the ability to govern itself and defend the interests of its people. Don't forget the other side of that coin. A vote to stay is forever. Permanent. There is no likelihood of another referendum in our lifetime or even our childrens' lifetimes. Even if there were, the same depressing, defeatist arguments would be deployed: it's uncertain, you'll get a couple of Euros less on the exchange rate next time you go on holiday for a week in France, the EU can change if only we give it another chance. This really is a once in a generation opportunity. Believe in Britain. Stronger, more open, more confident, more successful. Vote Leave!