“Happy Birthday, Brexit Britain!” - Campaign for an Independent Britain

Four years ago today we finally got free of the EU

CIBUK and it’s affiliate, Brexit Facts4EU asked some people we know and like, for their thoughts to celebrate the 1st day of the 5th year of independence

Four years ago yesterday, at 11pm UK time, the United Kingdom formally left the European Union, on 31 Jan 2020. For those who missed it, our tribute to the British people is here.

Today is officially the UK’s first day in its fifth year outside the EU bloc. We asked a few interesting people for their thoughts and bring these to our readers below.

Summary

The first day in our fifth year as an independent country again

The British people voted to leave the EU on 23 June 2016
It was the largest democratic vote in British history
Because of Rejoiner MPs and Peers it took years to make the will of the British people happen
The people reinforced their decision in the 2019 general election with ‘Get Brexit Done’
An 80-seat majority was secured under Boris Johnson
Four years ago at 11pm on 31 Jan 2020 the UK finally and formally left the EU

Here are some exclusive thoughts, written especially for our readers

They may differ in their individual views on various matters but all are united in celebrating this occasion. They come from right and left, male and female. We are grateful to them all for sharing their thoughts with readers on this special day.

Nigel Farage – ‘Mr Brexit’

“As we begin our fifth year as an independent nation we can celebrate an historic victory of the people against the politicians.

“The pity is that our government never really believed in Brexit and have failed to deliver many of the hopes of voters.”

– Nigel Farage, former MEP, founder of the Brexit Party, now President of Reform UK, commenting to and CIBUK.Org and Facts4EU.Org, 31 Jan 2024

Former Chief Negotiator of Task Force Europe, the Rt Hon Lord Frost of Allenton CMG PC

“Four years in, and despite all the dire predictions of all the critics, Brexit has been a great success. Britain is now a full democracy again. The British people are back in charge at elections.

“From agriculture to financial services to AI regulation, Britain is changing and reforming for the better.

“National independence, freedom, the ability to make our own laws and our own choices, that is what leaving the EU was all about. Let’s stick to it, and see the country go from strength to strength.”

– The Rt Hon Lord Frost of Allenton CMG PC, commenting to CIBUK.Org and Facts4EU.Org, 31 Jan 2024

The Rt Hon the Baroness Fox of Buckley

“It can be frustrating when Brexit’s promise is not realised by a political class unwilling to act as a sovereign state. But there can be no doubt that Brexit does mean we have the CAPACITY to control our own laws, borders, economy. A failure to do so now rests firmly with those WE elect, who have nowhere to hide and can’t simply blame Brussels for its own failings.

“But Brexiteers’ main achievement? Proving, against all the odds, that the vast power of the Establishment, which threw the kitchen sink and more at the project to overturn the 2016 vote to leave, is no match for determined voters and People Power. The electorate would not be intimidated or bullied, and that spirit of resistance, however battered five years on, is still apparent in British politics.

“The populist aspiration for more democracy, more control, more of say, sovereignty, can not be stuffed back into the bottle. Five years ago, parliament was brought to its knees by the democratic masses outside. Today that struggle must continue outside of Westminster too.”

– Claire Fox, Director, Academy of Ideas, The Rt Hon The Baroness Fox of Buckley, commenting to CIBUK.Org and Facts4EU.Org, 31 Jan 2024

The Rt Hon Sir John Redwood, MP for Wokingham and former Secretary of State

“Happy birthday Brexit. Great news jobs are up, pay is up, trade is up and the economy has grown since Brexit. How wrong Remain was, trying to scare us with forecasts of big job losses, falls in trade and falls in house prices.

“We can achieve much more now we are free to set our own laws , spend our own taxes and tear down trade barriers with the rest of the world. Now we need more MPs, officials and business leaders who seize the opportunities. Get back our fish, cancel EU interference in Northern Ireland and show leadership in world bodies now we have got our voice and votes back in those bodies.”

– The Rt Hon Sir John Redwood, MP for Wokingham and former Secretary of State, commenting to CIBUK.Org and Facts4EU.Org, 31 Jan 2024

Former Brexit Minister The Rt Hon David Jones MP

“Brexit was about many things, but above all about sovereignty – the ability, through our own parliament, to organise our own affairs.

“Now, after four years, we see the difference it has made. Our parliament is supreme again. We have ditched thousands of EU laws and avoided around 6,000 more that have been decreed by Brussels since we left.

“We are no longer governed by unelected bureaucrats. And the European Court of Justice’s supremacy has been ended.

“Just before Christmas last year, my new passport arrived. The words “European Union” were absent. I will be proud to produce it for the first time today, when I visit Berlin on parliamentary business.

“Happy birthday, Brexit.”

– The Rt Hon David Jones, MP for Clwyd West and former Brexit Minister, commenting to CIBUK.Org and Facts4EU.Org, 31 Jan 2024

Ruth Betson, CWO Chairman, Eastern Region

“I have always believed in the sovereignty of the United Kingdom. Walking around windswept Middlesbrough as the Conservative’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate in 2019, knocking on doors and listening to residents telling me why they were going to vote Conservative for the first time in their lives, gave me all the energy I needed to fight through the horrible weather that December. The people wanted our country out of the confines of the EU and they were excited about the future!

“There may still be more to do, but we have done so much, not least making trade deals with so many countries all around the world. None of this would have been possible from within the EU so we should continue to make Brexit one of the greatest chapters of our history.

“Happy birthday, Brexit Britain!”

– Ruth Betson, CWO Chairman, Eastern Region, commenting to CIBUK.Org and Facts4EU.Org, 31 Jan 2024

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Observations

The Campaign for an Independent Britain (CIBUK) – is the longest-standing independence organisation in the UK, founded in 1969. We are a non-party political group of people from all walks of life. CIBUK is membership based – everyone can join as a member or help our work with a donation. We fully rely on everyday people’s generousity to keep us going. CIBUK believes in democracy and in a fully-free, independent, and sovereign United Kingdom.

For over 50 years the CIBUK has made a significant contribution in campaigning on issues important to the majority of our population, and in securing our exit from the European Union.

Towards the end of 2015 one of our affiliates, the Brexit Facts4EU.Org team was formed to fight for an independent United Kingdom and win the Referendum. Our intention was simple: to research and provide official facts to counter the growing Establishment cover-up of what it meant – and would mean going forward – to be a subservient state of a sclerotic EU bloc.

Here we are today, over eight years later, independent but still fighting. Nevertheless much has been achieved already, as our contributors above confirm.

On this first day of our fifth year as an independent nation we raise our glasses and say proudly: “Happy Birthday, Brexit Britain!”

CIBUK.Org would like to thank its affiliate Brexit Facts4EU.Org for their kind permission to re-publish this article.