In our continuing series presaging the crucial June vote, a former Labour Minister argues the case to leave the European Union more usually associated with Conservative Party ‘outers’

I entered this referendum campaign a reluctant “leaver”. As it has developed, I have become much more certain about what is in the country’s best interests. With little more than 50 days to go, I believe a vote to leave the European Union (EU) on 23 June will be the right outcome. That decision has been reached in view of what is very likely to happen to the United Kingdom and the EU if we vote to remain.

The “remain” campaign has centred on the theme of, “Hang on to nurse for fear of finding something worse”. A proper campaign could be mounted from this position. Any major move a country makes concerning its destiny is fraught with difficulties, let alone dangers. But to argue along these lines requires an explanation of the nature of politics following the thinking of that great Conservative philosopher, Michael Oakeshott.
For him, political activity was not about achieving political programmes. It was instead about maintaining as peaceful a kingdom as possible in a troublesome world. He likened doing politics to setting sail in a boundless ocean with neither port to pull into nor harbour as the destination. Staying afloat was everything.