Taking time to thank country's true heroes

Peter Bone MP

It was particularly poignant for Jennie and I as our son Alex had just returned only that week from active duty overseas. Our armed forces must be thanked for all their work and courage. They will always remain our country’s true heroes.

Once again it has been a frantic couple of weeks in Parliament. We have certainly had the most historical debate and vote since I have been a Member of Parliament.

It is well known that I am a Euro sceptic and on Monday, October 24 after months and years of trying to secure a debate, my fellow colleagues and I through the backbench business committee, of which I am a member, debated whether there should be a referendum on Britain staying in or leaving the European Union and/or if Britain should renegotiate the terms of the membership with the European Union.

The debate was a great success with the benches packed the entire duration. I was fortunate enough to conclude the debate which was followed by the vote.

Eighty-three Conservative members, including myself, voted against the Government for the motion which asked for a referendum on the European Union.

It was the largest rebellion in Parliament since the Second World War and it was with a heavy heart that each one of us had to rebel against our Government.

I believe that the Government is doing a fantastic job, especially with trying to cut the deficit, but I am afraid on the issue of the European Union it is out of touch with the people of Britain.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who wrote in asking me and my fellow Conservative colleagues to support the motion. It is your voice that really matters and one that enabled this debate to take place.

I urge you to keep lobbying me and the Government to finally get a referendum on our membership on the European Union. I certainly will continue to put pressure on the Government.

Another hugely important issue is the threat of the collapse of the Euro; I applied for an urgent question to discuss this matter and was granted it in on November 3.

It has long been argued by Conservative ministers that retaining the pound and allowing it to float in line with market conditions has enormous benefits for the British economy.

If the British economy is having a difficult time, the value of the pound will fall, which makes exports cheaper and foreign companies’ imports more expensive, thereby increasing growth, jobs and prosperity in the United Kingdom.

Equally, Conservative ministers have always argued that the Bank of England’s ability to set UK interest rates allows the country to encourage growth in a recession and control expansion in a boom.

Therefore it is with great relief that Britain is not in the Euro; the Euro has never been a sustainable idea.

The crisis is bringing down governments, with Greece having sworn in a new government on Friday.

The unsustainable state of the Euro and Europe really can only strengthen our need to get out of the European Union sooner rather than later.

This week’s guest columnist is Wellingborough & Rushden MP Peter Bone