The first in the series of ‘ European Debates’ organised by Winston McKenzie , an independent mayoral candidate for London was successfully held on Monday at the old Haringey town hall in Tottenham.

The event brought together members of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and cross- section of members of the public to deliberate on Britain’s membership in the European Union and to galvanize support to get her (Britain) out of the EU.

The function was chaired by the political editor of the Daily Express, Patrick O’Flynn and addressed by Mick Greenhough, a political activist, Stuart wheeler, UKIP treasurer and Alp Mehmet of the Migration Watch.

Asked why Britain contributed huge sums of money to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union(EU) in the face of abject poverty in the country, where families found it difficult to provide food and other essentials for their children , the panel said the EU was not perfect and had no benefits for the British people.

The speakers unanimously agreed however, that the UK benefited a bit from the EU in the 1960’s where taxes were very high but questioned why Britain continued to contribute so much towards the EU “when she could not afford a proper army”

The panel praised the short lived success of the IMF but added that other countries have benefited more than the UK even though she contributed more than rest of Europe.

“The IMF saved our skin in the 1978’s but other countries have had success since then”

They questioned the very membership of the country in the EU and said they were deceived from the onset by the Conservative Party in buying into the whole idea.

“The Tories lied to parliament that we were going into an economic union, but little did we know that it was a political union.”

But one panel member, Alp Mehmet praised the EU and said Britain was “better off and trading far more better than we used to “

On immigration, the panel agreed that “it has led to a problem because it was not planned for,

it has kept wages down, we should have people whose skills we need ,not those who come to do jobs, not just people who want to live here”

Members of the audience challenged the panel and said it was time the EU and Britain left Africa alone “to think for themselves, instead of using aid as an excuse to go to countries to steal their resources”

The panel refuted the claim and added” African leaders are only interested in winning elections”.

 The second debate comes off at the Old town Hall, Tottenham on the 26^th of September from 7pm to 8:30pm.

Source:Florence Simpson/Voice of Africa Radio/UK