Andrew Roberts asks you to support the Bruges Group
Brexit is under threat. Every day an anti-democratic alliance orchestrated by Tony Blair, senior Labour figures, the Lib Dems, together with their cheerleaders in big business and the media, are working to block delivery of what you, I and 17.4 million others voted for on 23rd June 2016. Every day they talk down Britain's prospects, try to undermine Brexit legislation, search for opportunities to take legal action to prevent Britain leaving the EU and demand a repeat vote.
We must not let them steal away our hard-won victory. After the referendum, I wrote that the Bruges Group played a key role in winning back our freedom from the European Union. By educating the public on European affairs and promoting our positive vision of a free country, the Bruges Group has been at the forefront of the long battle to secure this country's freedom and prosperity.
None of this would have been possible without your generous support, yet our battle is not over. As events are proving, there is still a long way to go and many dangers to Brexit lie ahead.
There are those that continue to ignore the public will, and our traditional liberties, and want us tied into many of the EU's iniquitous arrangements. Some want Britain's armed forces tied into an emerging EU military, that will undermine NATO. Others support EU arrangements that threaten our civil liberties. Some want our economy chained by EU regulations for the foreseeable future, even after we have left. These are just a few areas where our freedom, and future opportunities in the world could be curtailed, placing Britain at the continued mercy of a failing foreign system. Worse, this may come at an enormous financial cost.
For me and I'm sure for you too, exiting the EU means leaving those restrictions and instead following our customs. Our nation is a Common Law jurisdiction, fundamentally incompatible with the European Union. As I know well, we are a people who throughout history have been determined to live in a free country and even to fight for the liberties that we hold dear. At the heart of our values rests the concept of individual liberty coupled with a global outlook.
Events are moving quickly and time is short. The Bruges Group has friends at the heart of government whom we are confident share our vision and whose efforts to take us out of the EU we applaud. But they are under huge pressure and need our backing now more than ever. Many in Westminster and in the EU need to know that the British people will not succumb to their political posturing and the manipulation of the 'remoaning' tendency exhibited by opponents of the public's clear referendum verdict.
Now, at such a critical time for our cause, the Bruges Group must continue to campaign strongly to counter the anti-Brexit lobby, to bolster public support for Britain's exciting new global endeavour and to provide intellectual and public backing to our friends in government fighting to deliver Brexit. To do this we need your support. Last year you kindly donated to our cause. I would like to ask if you will please give as generously again to the Bruges Group's work, to support our vision and to join others in continuing to fight for Britain's freedom, democracy and future prosperity.
I look forward to hearing from you and to meeting you at a future Bruges Group event.
Yours faithfully,
Professor Andrew Roberts, FRSL, FRHistS
Historian and broadcaster