At the South Holland Centre on Monday last week, there was an event advertised as a panel of academics and experts answering questions from the audience about the EU and June referendum.
The hall was about half full and they did try hard to seem impartial.
Unfortunately a simple Google search revealed that six of the seven people taking questions had all published previous material in support of our nation remaining in the EU and this was clear in the way they answered questions.
The single panel member who did not share their opinion tried hard to make his points but obviously had a rather hard time doing so against such opposition.
There is nothing wrong with the Remain side presenting its case but it must do so openly.
Pretending or even allowing people to believe it is providing a source of independent information is plain wrong.
A straw poll at the end of the event indicated that just one person had changed his mind after attending, so this did not much change things.
It was still a disingenuous way to try to drum up support for Remain.
What it actually indicates is the depth they will sink to in order to win.
Two additional points about the evening are worth mentioning.
One member of the public, overheard as the audience left, claimed that Leave supporters in the audience were xenophobic, a highly insulting remark.
In no way is a desire to control our own borders or to express concern about public services xenophobic.
Nearly all nations outside the EU and these days some within it, do so.
A question was asked about the position of European residents here if we leave.
Most such residents are unable to vote and I understand they may be concerned.
In order to reassure them, no part of the official Leave campaigns would support the removal of existing settled and legal EU migrants, with the exception of serious criminals.
That would be contrary to natural justice and something I would fight tooth and claw in the highly unlikely event of it ever being proposed.
If we leave, new immigration will be controlled by a point based system, which would be adjusted in accordance with specific skills or labour shortages and tempered with consideration of family connections.
This is the policy of my party and I believe members of the Conservative party and other mainstream “leavers” agree with this position.
Paul Foyster
Chairman
UKIP South Holland & the Deepings
