Welcome to EU-sceptics Anonymous!

Hello and welcome to "EU-sceptics Anonymous" which, as the name suggests, is a blog aimed at promoting the cause of EU-scepticism in the UK.

I say "EU-scepticism" and not "Euroscepticism" for a reason.  I am very much pro-Europe.  I can speak a reasonable level of French and Spanish and I'm learning Italian.  I love many kinds of European culture, food and music. I teach English to many lovely people from various European countries, most of which are in the EU.  I like travelling in Europe and love in particular Florence and Granada.

At the same time, I am a proud Englishman who is fed up with the European Union and wants England to get out of the EU as soon as possible.  I say "England" for a reason too because I am English first.  In my view, the other nations of the UK should be able to choose independence and make their own choices about EU membership as separate states.

While I am clear in my political preferences that England should leave the EU, I am quite often exasperated at the level of debate about EU matters from the EU-sceptic side.  There is too much sensationalism, exaggeration, hysteria and even insults and abuse hurled around.  And I don't just mean on the internet by "John Bull" types.  I have heard UKIP politicians make unprofessional and insulting comments about EU figures and other political opponents which have made me cringe. This has to stop if we EU-sceptics are to get serious about organising ourselves properly and with discipline - and ultimately get enough support to leave the EU.

In my view, there is a mildly EU-sceptical middle-ground in the UK which we need to win over to stand a chance of securing a majority for leaving the EU if (I hope when) we get a referendum.  This middle-ground will vote more with their heads than their hearts and will not be impressed by stupid comments about the EU and Europe by EU-sceptic politicians, journalists and campaigners.

On this blog, I hope to post useful information about the EU to inform ourselves on the issues at stake.  We need to start now to be ready by 2017.  People will need time to process the issues, especially relating to the economic issues.  We can't leave it till the last few months.

If I have time, I hope also to post the occasional article celebrating some aspect of European culture.  If I don't get round to this side of things, it won't be because I don't care about European culture any more, it will just be a question of time.

Oh, and by the way, I am not a member of UKIP or any other party.  I have in my time voted for the Conservatives, Lib Dems, Labour and the Greens. I am on the centre-left and this includes a fervent belief that we should not spend £100bn in the next Parliamentary term on replacing Trident.

So thanks for reading and I hope you sign up to the "EU-sceptic" pledge which I will be posting shortly.

James