Ever since 1971, the European Commission had plans to cut up the UK into regions as part of a political superstate called the European Union.

This plan was included in a secret report by Paul Romus of the European Commission, a Frenchman, which was the blueprint of the regions we see today from John Prescott. From that time onwards, the plan was hatched to devolve Britain's power of rule to unelected commissioners in Brussels. In 1972, Conservative prime minister, Edward Heath, also became part of this sinister plot by signing the Treaty of Rome under the guise of the Common Market.

Heath knew full well that this was not a commercial trading organisation but the start of the decline of Britain as a great and independent nation. In 1975, he offered the British people, what they thought was the biggest opportunity to join one of the world's largest trading blocs. But in reality, he carried out the greatest deception in British history.

He was well aware that the Common Market was little to do with 'trading', but everything to do with a political superstate. As the years have passed, Britain's power of rule and assets have been systematically transferred to Brussels and at enormous cost to the British people.

Every day, we pay £30m to the EU in the form of membership fees, enough money to build a new fully equipped hospital every two weeks. This has been a scandalous situation and one than must not continue. Britain does not need the EU. In fact, we buy more from the EU that we sell to it - the EU needs Britain more than we need the EU.

If we were to leave, we could still trade with the EU but be free of the constraints that are imposed us. We would be able to trade with the rest of the world as we decide and not how the EU dictates. For years, Britain has flourished as a trading nation and would clearly be better off outside of the EU like Norway and Switzerland whose economies have far surpassed those of any EU member states.

The EU now controls 80% of our laws and is responsible for destroying many of our industries including fishing and farming. We are drowning in regulation, political correctness and human rights, all of which are controlled from Brussels. We no longer have control of our borders which is responsible for mass immigration into Britain.

The UK Independence Party is the only party committed to withdrawing Britain from the European Union. Only then can we restore British sovereignty.