1. What is the UK Independence Party?
The UK Independence Party consists of ordinary people, from all parts of the political spectrum, who are determined to prevent the UK becoming a province of a bureaucratic European superstate. Launched in 1993, the Party has grown into the 4th largest Party with a national organisation comprising branches throughout the UK. The Party has 3 MEPs.

2. Why do we need the UK Independence Party?
All other "major" parties endorse UK membership of the European Union . We are the only one committed to maintaining the independence entrusted to us by previous generations. The UK must be prepared to withdraw from the treaties, which bind us to the EU. The UK Independence Party will to do exactly that!

3. So you're anti-European then?
Of course not. We want to have the friendliest relations possible with our European neighbours. We simply want to run our own affairs - and to let them run theirs. Trying to merge different cultures and economies within an artificially created state is distinctly abnormal. If history proves anything it is that artificial states don't survive. Look at the USSR or Yugoslavia or the old European Empires. Why should Brussels run British affairs? The idea that all people are alike and should merge into one state is dangerous.

4. So you are British nationalists really?
Hang on. We may be British and we believe Britain should be self-governed. But we don't claim to be superior to anyone else, nor do we want to impose our values on others. We don't want an Empire. We oppose racism and sectarianism. We have no prejudices against foreigners or minorities. But as we respect the rights and freedom of others so we are prepared to stand up for our own. We are not Little Englanders and have no intention of becoming Little Europeans. We can run our own affairs and be "good Europeans" as well as World Traders.

5. How do you expect to achieve your aims?
The UK Independence Party believes that the best way to challenge the pro-European parties is through the ballot box. UKIP fielded candidates in every seat in the 1999 European elections and gained three MEPs. The UK Independence Party will take votes from the other "major" parties and will keep fighting until it has a majority in Parliament.

6. Why do you want UKIP Euro-MPs?
UKIP candidates are not EU gravy train career politicians. But we need our own MEPs to give UKIP access to information, a platform and resources to raise public awareness of the EU agenda and help with finance of future campaigns.

7. But wouldn't we be shut out of the EU if we left?
Sheer fantasy. Instead we would be doing a roaring trade under the sort of free trade agreements enjoyed by other non-EU countries like Norway, Switzerland and even Mexico. Besides UK trade is so much in deficit with other EU states they would be quite mad to stop trading with us. Think logically. We export more in American dollars than in all other currencies put together - yet no one expects us to be the 51st state of the USA. So why do we have to be "in the heart of Europe?" It doesn't make sense. Out of the 42 countries that make up Europe only 15 are in the EU.

8. Wouldn't we lose out economically by leaving the EU?
No, we would gain!. After more than 25 years in the EC, it is obvious that we have suffered as a result. Since 1973 it has cost the UK more than £160 Billion and further untold billions forcing us to adapt to European systems and standards, even though British systems led the world. Adopting these systems has made it more difficult for us to trade with the rest of the world. The cost to the UK is a net loss of between £20billion and £35billion per year!!! The dummy run towards the Euro "The ERM" slashed billions off our national reserves and lost us tens of thousands of jobs. Moreover future EU plans are undermining much of what is left of our economy. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO STAY IN THE EU. IT IS BLEEDING US DRY, CHANGING OUR LAWS AND CHANGING OUR CULTURE.

9. But we have to implement Euro-regulations to export there, don't we ?
Yes but 86% of our work has nothing to do with exports to the EU, yet we still have to obey crippling EU compliance laws - or face criminal charges! UK companies could better adapt their manufacturing to export to world markets and be more competitive if we were outside the EU.

10. But doesn't the EU give us more influence in the world?
No! in fact exactly the opposite. At the moment the UK belongs to the UN, NATO, and the G7 group and many other international organisations. Common economic, foreign and defence policies are not compatible with our own and we are constantly outvoted and outmanoeuvred by other EU states, seriously undermining our influence and interests around the world.

11. So what is your alternative to being a member of the EU?
The alternative to committing suicide is simply not to commit suicide. The alternative is to be a normal self-governing state like Japan (which does not need to join China or Russia) or Norway (which is successfully independent of the EU).

12.Yet isn't half of our trade done with the EU?
No, we are the 4th largest economy in the world by GDP and only 14% of that GDP is involved with the trade with the EU. Lets face it. They make everything we made and they send it here. Their labour rates close our factories.When you are told 50% of our exports are to the EU, ask if those figures include 'invisibles '(insurance, financial services etc which they exclude!) our major market being North America and whether the exports via Dutch container ports to the rest of the world are counted as exports to the EU (because they are!)

13. Wouldn't Japanese and other investors pull out if we left the EU?
No. Outside the EU our costs would be lower, their profits higher. They need investments in an English speaking country, a language that is used in half the world's trading. They are also attracted by our own business taxes and fewer rules. "Harmonisation" to EU standards may cost us these investments.

14. But what about the Euro ? Surely we will have to join it ?
90 % of European Transactions in the Euro are done on the London markets even though we have not yet joined. Neither have Denmark or Sweden. If we did interest rates would rarely if ever be right for our economy , our boom and bust cycles would become much worse - just as the Euro is doing to the German and Irish economies . Look what happened to the UK when we were tied to join the ERM. The pound has proved to be more stable with the US dollar than with any European currency - yet no one suggests we have to join the dollar. A single European currency is, and always was, an EU political ambition designed to take over our economy. It has nothing to do our natural economics.

15. Why does the EU meddle in every aspect of British Life?
Politicians pushed the Common Market as a "simple trade agreement" in the 1975 referendum. Our fishing rights have been taken, we are not allowed to produce enough food to feed ourselves, our oilfields and our manufacturing industry are under threat and our politicians only rubber stamp EU law. "Corpus Juris", a system of EU law, which will end our rights to Habeas Corpus and trial by jury, is being forced on us. New (armed) EU Police can arrest any EU "citizen" take them to another EU country and imprison them indefinitely whilst "evidence is collected" - without any appeal possible! Even worse we are now promised an 'EU Constitution' for the 'United States of Europe'. Far from a simple trade agreement the EU is unaccountable, unnatural and a dangerously unstable huge new country, costing British taxpayers a fortune.