Independence from Europe

Independence from Europe
Leader	Mike Nattrass
Founded	20 June 2012
Headquarters	48 Fentham Road Hampton-in-Arden B92 0AY
Ideology	Hard Euroscepticism State ownership Direct democracy English devolution
House of Commons	0 / 650
House of Lords	0 / 754
European Parliament	0 / 73
Local government	0 / 21,871
Website
Independence from Europe
Politics of the United Kingdom Political parties Elections

Independence from Europe is a minor, Eurosceptic political party in the United Kingdom. The party has been registered since June 2012 but remained inactive until it was officially launched in October 2013 by current party leader Mike Nattrass, a disaffected member of the UK Independence Party (UKIP). It has no official political representation, but previously had one Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and three Councillors, all of whom were once members of UKIP.

Nattrass' deselection as a UKIP candidate in August 2013 saw him voluntarily leave the party and after deliberation, launch his own group whilst still an MEP. The party's name has changed twice since, largely due to the potential of voters mistaking it with UKIP; use of the word "Independence" in both parties' names has proven particularly contentious, prompting two separate investigations by the Electoral Commission. Virtually all commentators have dismissed the party as a means for disgruntled former UKIP members to confuse the electorate and split their previous party's support, an allegation Independence from Europe denies. This is despite the party costing UKIP between one and three seats at the 2014 European Parliament election, for which Nattrass' group is perhaps best known. Collecting 1.49% of the national vote, it has been their most successful election to date, although the party has never had a candidate elected to any office.

It shares a similar right-wing policy platform with UKIP, with Nattrass stating as such amid the party's launch. Key policies include withdrawing the UK from the European Union (EU), prioritising relations with the Commonwealth of Nations and introducing more stringent measures on immigration. It further supports widespread use of referenda, promoting English devolution and abolishing the National Assembly for Wales. Nattrass places his party to the left of UKIP, however, demonstrated through both the party's general opposition to privatisation and its proposed nationalisation of targeted infrastructure and amenities.

History

Founder and party leader, Mike Nattrass

Before establishing the party, Mike Nattrass had long been involved with Britain's Eurosceptic movement. In 1994, Nattrass joined the New Britain Party and unsuccessfully stood for the group in the Dudley West by-election of the same year. Alike most New Britain candidates, Nattrass was absorbed into and stood in Solihull for the single-issue Referendum Party at the 1997 general election. Nattrass subsequently joined the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and eventually rose to the positions of Party Chairman and Deputy Leader. He had been elected as UKIP candidate in the 2004 European Parliament election to represent the West Midlands constituency, and was subsequently re-elected in 2009.

Nattrass failed a candidacy assessment in August 2013 and was duly deselected as UKIP candidate for the 2014 election, prompting him to initiate futile legal action against the party. He duly left UKIP and was in talks with the English Democrats, but cancelled plans to ally with them after they prematurely announced his joining the party. Nattrass, still a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), instead launched his own party after considering a career as an independent. An Independence Party's creation was announced in October 2013, being renamed An Independence from Europe on 7 March 2014 to avoid confusion with UKIP. Nattrass had previously considered the label 4 A Referendum. Electoral Commission records show that he had in fact registered his own party significantly earlier, on 20 June 2012. From this date, he had also been filing financial statements for the fledgling, albeit inactive, organisation. The new party's development benefited from an incident in September 2013 when a Lincolnshire County Councillor, Chris Pain, was expelled from UKIP over an internal controversy. Fellow UKIP Councillors Alan Jesson and John Beaver supported Pain's innocence and was also expelled from the party for plotting to form a breakaway faction in response to his expulsion. All three became members of Nattrass' party and proceeded to represent their wards accordingly.

An Independence from Europe fielded 60 candidates in the 2014 European Parliament election, proposing representatives for each of England's nine constituencies. The most notable of whom were Nattrass, who sought re-election in the West Midlands and Laurence Stassen, a Dutch MEP who had recently left the Party for Freedom (PVV) and was vying for election in the South East England region. Stassen's unusual standing for the party "demonstrate[d] the extent to which MEPs whose true ambition is to remain in the European Parliament will go in order to remain in their seat" according to author William T. Daniel. The party did not stand candidates in the Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland constituencies. Campaigning for the election included a nationwide party political broadcast through the BBC on 8 May and Nattrass' appearance on Daily Politics, where he was interviewed by Andrew Neil on 14 May. Despite claiming it would receive more than 10% of the national vote and elect up to four MEPs, the party only collected 1.49% and all candidates were defeated. Finishing seventh, it was the highest placed party not to elect an MEP; it polled more votes than the British National Party (BNP), whom were defending two seats.

Nigel Farage (pictured) claimed the party was "given the green light to dupe voters" by the Electoral Commission.

Previously, pressure had come from UKIP for the party to change its name and official tagline, 'UK Independence Now', believing it was a strategy to split their vote. This, in addition to the use of 'An' at the beginning of the party name, placing them highest alphabetically on the ballot paper, prompted an investigation by the Electoral Commission at the request of UKIP. Nattrass remarked "UKIP does not have sole right to the word independence" and the Commission soon dismissed the complaint. Notwithstanding, UKIP claimed the party's similar name unfairly costed them a seat in South West England to the benefit of the Green Party, with Nattrass' group acquiring around 23,000 votes in the region. Then UKIP leader Nigel Farage later complained "[a]llowing Nattrass to launch a party with that name was shocking and showed the absolute contempt that the establishment have for us ... they were given the green light to dupe voters." Political scientists Matthew Goodwin and Caitlin Milazzo concur, calling it "a deliberate attempt to confuse voters and damage [his] old party." The party's credibility was further attacked by commentators reporting the affair; Christopher Hope of The Daily Telegraph dismissed the group as being "set up late last year to confuse voters who were trying to back Ukip". Journalist Donal Blaney further labelled them "hitherto unheard-of" outside the incident. Blaney also invokes Mike Smithson's opinion that if UKIP had acquired the minor party's overall vote share, it would have won two additional seats; Farage posited "some think it cost us three." In response to the incident, citing his deselection, Nattrass retorted "[d]id [Farage] expect me just to melt away? No, I am going down with my flag." A second review by the Commission found the name was unsuitable and the party became Independence from Europe on 23 February 2015, in time for that year's general election.

The 2015 election saw the party contest five constituencies, despite previously indicating it would vie for 10. These included the Lincolnshire seats of Boston and Skegness and Brigg and Goole alongside the West Midlands seats of Meriden and Solihull; additionally contested was Cheadle, a constituency in Greater Manchester. Nattrass once again appeared on Daily Politics, interviewed by Jo Coburn on 1 April. No candidates were elected and the party accumulated a negligible vote share. Local elections in the same year saw the party unsuccessfully contest eight wards on East Lindsey District Council, with an additional candidate failing in his bid for election to Leicester City Council. The following year's local elections saw the party field a candidate for Exeter City Council, who was comfortably defeated. A day later, the party contested a local by-election for Croydon London Borough Council triggered by the resignation of Emily Benn; the party finished second last, above Winston McKenzie of the English Democrats. Independence from Europe failed to field any candidates in the 2017 local elections; incumbent Councillors Alan Jesson and John Beaver did not seek re-election and Chris Pain defected to the Lincolnshire Independents, leaving the party with no official political representation.

Ideology and policies

Little to no academic commentary has been conducted with regard to the party's ideology. Upon launch in 2013, Nattrass implied "it will have similar right wing ideals as UKIP", only to assert a year later that "we are not the same, we are to the left of UKIP." He subsequently repeated the line in 2015. Aside from any ideological reason, the party was founded out of a general disaffection with UKIP's management, particularly leader Nigel Farage and Party Chairman Steve Crowther, who left members feeling "dictated to". That said, the party stated in 2014 that some UKIP MEPs were frustrated at the party's 2009 effort in creating, and embracing, the Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) group in the European Parliament. Right-wing populist in ideology, Nattrass labelled EFD as "probably obnoxious" and temporarily left the group whilst an MEP. Despite calling Farage a "totalitarian", Nattrass maintained "I support the principles UKIP stands for" whilst protesting his deselection in court. The party claims to advocate a society comprising "[p]ersonal freedom with personal responsibility", supported by what it sees as "traditional commonsense policies".

Constitutional and legislative policy

The party favours the abolition of the National Assembly for Wales (pictured).

Independence from Europe's primary policy is to guarantee that the United Kingdom leaves the European Union (EU). This includes its legal accessories, promising a withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The party advocates the increased use of direct democracy, namely through referenda. Petitions with support from more than 5% of the electorate will trigger a national referendum on a respective issue, with the outcome legally binding by default. Conversely, Nattrass stated in 2014 that his party was adverse to the idea of a nationwide vote on the UK's membership of the EU, calling for "MPs with backbone" to ensure a departure was delivered.

The party advocates sweeping reforms of the UK's legislative process. These include a reduction of the number of Members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons by one third (650 to 430) and the replacement of the House of Lords with an elected upper chamber. Scheduled debates would be introduced, upon which members for Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh constituencies would return to their devolved legislatures, leaving the UK Parliament to discuss English affairs exclusively. The party has repeatedly advocated the abolition of the National Assembly for Wales, however, at one time adopting the tagline 'Abolish Assembly and leave European Union'; it suggests a referendum be held in Wales over the matter. Devolved legislatures' membership would no longer consist of politicians elected specifically to those chambers (i.e. MLAs, MSPs or AMs), but would instead comprise those UK MPs returning routinely from the national parliament.

On an individual basis, MPs would be paid and claim expenses in-line with existing British civil service guidelines. If elected, the party would "[b]uild a condominium to house MP's whilst they reside in London" and scrap their second home allowances. Legislators would be accountable by way of an 'Independent Politicians Complaints Commission', with its members chosen by designated non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Furthermore, the activities of political parties would face greater regulation; whips would be removed from the select committee appointment process and party sanctioning against rebellious MPs disallowed.

Economic policy

The party claims that by disowning tariffs and restrictions imposed by the European Union Customs Union (EUCU) the UK can focus on adopting amicable free trade with the Commonwealth of Nations. The party would further seek to reduce unemployment by limiting the proportion of migrant work imported from EU member states, as well as attempt to lower Council Tax by scrapping the fiscal implications of the union's Landfill Directive. Independence from Europe claims that by abandoning the EU, and thus the cost of membership, the UK's national debt can be cleared. Domestic budgetary policies include the raising of personal allowance to £15,000, broad simplification of both personal and corporate tax and opposition to zero-hours contracts. In addition, the party condones the forced collection of tax from evaders and the nationalisation of private finance initiatives (PFIs).

Energy, environment and transport policy

Scrapping plans for the High Speed 2 (HS2) railway has been described among the party's "key policies".

The party opposes government subsidy of wind turbines and instead proposes the increased use of clean coal technology and nuclear fusion to address the UK's energy shortage. This would be accompanied by a state-owned 'Public British Energy Company', a measure that the party hopes will keep consumer costs affordable. The party would also abandon catch quotas set by the EU's Common Fisheries Policy and establish 'no fishing zones' to ensure plentiful stocks.

In transport policy, Independence from Europe has generally been skeptical of large-scale developments. BBC News characterised the group's opposition to the construction of the High Speed 2 (HS2) railway as among "[i]ts key policies"; the group has further warned against expansion of London's Standsted and Gatwick airports, as well as the introduction of a third runway at Heathrow. Furthermore, the party would seek to abolish toll roads and nationalise UK railway franchises "if they fail in viability or in their contractual obligations."

Foreign, defence and immigration policy

The group seeks to re-establish "traditional links" with the Commonwealth of Nations, believing that the UK has "lost invaluable trading links, respect and friendship" with the organisation since joining the EU. Independence from Europe has twice asserted that the UK misspends foreign aid on countries wealthy enough to fund independent space programs, it suggests such funding should be diverted to support Britain's elderly population. In defence policy, the party has pledged to increase the number of armed forces personnel to 200,000 and reduce the amount of British troops sent to fight abroad, further encouraging the United Nations (UN) to take more responsibility over international security.

Independence from Europe has called for stricter immigration policy to be implemented in the UK, but has refused to set a statistical migration target. It supports an 'Australian-style' points-based system to regulate immigration once the UK has left the European Economic Area (EEA), citing pressures on population growth, housing and infrastructure. Foreigners would also face more stringent rules once they'd arrived; temporary visitors would have to carry identification at all times, as well as reside in the UK for at least 10 years before becoming eligible for British citizenship. Such measures, the party hopes, would justify the reintroduction of the country's work permit scheme.

Social policy

The party supports the maintenance of Britain's National Health Service (NHS) to be free at the point of delivery and has described itself as "dead against privatisation" of the institution. Whilst reducing bureaucracy in the NHS, the party would also aim to invest a further £5 billion to train 40,000 more nurses in addition to 10,000 extra doctors. Free dental and eye treatment would be restored and foreign visitors would be required to possess private medical insurance during their time in the UK. It would seek to return more community services, like the NHS, into public ownership where they have been privatised entirely or in-part, including prisons and the Post Office. It would reserve the UK's wider welfare system to cater exclusively for British citizens; they would also limit the amount of tax credits a childless, able-bodied citizen could receive to 80% of the weekly national minimum wage as well as restrict child benefit payments for households with more than two juveniles and/or a combined annual income of over £50,000. Independence from Europe supports and seeks to extend tenants' 'Right to Buy' council and housing association properties.

To address crime, the party seeks to deport foreign offenders, extend neighborhood watch schemes and hold a referendum on restoring capital punishment in the UK. It has further pledged to invest £2.5 billion into the police service, promising to recruit 10,000 more officers. In addition, the group would reform education policy by aiming to cut school class sizes and scrapping tuition fees for UK students attending British universities; conversely, all foreign students would be required to pay in full.

See also

• Independence from Europe election results

References

Bibliography

• Blaney, Donal (2014). "Election dysfunction? Changes to electoral law since 2010". In Dale, Iain (ed.). (ed.). The Politicos Guide to the 2015 General Election. London: Biteback Publishing. pp. 119–124. ISBN 978-1-84954-807-6. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |editorlink= ignored (|editor-link= suggested) (help)
• Daniel, William T. (2015). Career Behaviour and the European Parliament: All Roads Lead Through Brussels?. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-102573-0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Farage, Nigel (2015). The Purple Revolution: The Year That Changed Everything. London: Biteback Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84954-896-0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Goodwin, Matthew; Milazzo, Caitlin (2015). UKIP: Inside the Campaign to Redraw the Map of British Politics. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-873611-0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

External links

• Official website
• Complete manifesto
• Electoral Commission registration