In her weekly newsletter to supporters (29 May), Caroline Ansell, MP for Eastbourne and Wilingdon has made clear how she intends to vote on the historic day that will decide our future in relation to the European Union. She says, ‘there is also the matter of where I stand on the EU issue, and I am using my newsletter today to declare that I have decided with some regret to say I will vote to leave on 23rd June’.
Caroline Ansell, MP for Eastbourne
28 May 2016, weekly newsletter to supporters
What a very busy week! Many of you attended the hugely successful EU debate at the Congress Theatre on Thursday evening. What a wonderful occasion it was! There was a huge turnout, and I’m grateful to all who came, as well as the speakers Dan Hannan, Lord Marks, Kevin Byrne, Cole Moreton and David Sears. I think all agree it was a fascinating debate, and I’d also like to say thank you to the theatre staff as well as the volunteers who were a key part of making it all happen. I should also apologise for missing the opening speeches due to being in Parliament for important votes on the Queen’s Speech, and then a delayed train – However I was pleased to have been there in time to chair the Q&A session.
So what exactly did happen? Well, we had the opportunity to discuss in some depth a range of issues. I think all the speakers agreed that we would have liked to have gone on longer as there is so much to discuss – but I think it’s fair to say a good balance was struck and certainly in the bar afterwards the discussion carried on and most people felt better informed that they had been previously.
We are working on the video, and I had tried to get it ready for inclusion on this newsletter (hence the slight delay) but we’re not quite there yet. The whole video will be on my website over the next couple of days, and I will include the link next week – but of course you can keep checking the website as well if you just can’t wait!
There is also the matter of where I stand on the EU issue, and I am using my newsletter today to declare that I have decided with some regret to say I will vote to leave on 23rd June.
I say regret because I had first hoped to remain in a reformed European Union. The renegotiation deal says everything about today’s EU – that it is only moving in one direction: ever increasing centralisation.
I hope these last weeks that I have served my constituents well by providing balanced information and encouraging all to take part and use their vote.
I am pleased the Conservative government has delivered a referendum so that the British people can have their say on our European membership. I will respect the result, whatever that brings, and continue to work hard to secure a brighter future for us all.
