Why Vote Leave

by Daniel Hannan

MEP and award-winning political writer Daniel Hannan argues for a British exit ahead of the coming referendum.

Hannan demonstrates that the EU is past its sell-by date, rendered obsolete by technological advances, shrinking economically and less relevant to our economic needs than ever. Worse than that, he shows that the EU can't reform, can't be democratic and can't be divorced from its goal of ever-closer political union. Staying in does not mean staying the same, and a vote to leave - far from being the risky choice - is actually the safe one.

Finally, Hannan argues that Britain doesn't have to stay in the EU to remain at the heart of Europe and considers the global role a confident nation freed from EU strictures could play.

Daniel Hannan has been Conservative MEP for South East England since 1999. He writes frequently for the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Guardian, CapX, and Washington Examiner. He is the author of the award-winning How We Invented Freedom & Why It Matters.

©2016 Head of Zeus (P)2016 Head of Zeus

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

Audible Audio

Published March 16, 2016

About the author

British politician, journalist, and author who is a Member of the European Parliament. He is also the Secretary-General of the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR). Hannan advocates localism, and he has written several books arguing for democratic reform. He is also President of the Young Britons' Foundation and a patron of Reading University Conservative Association. He is a Eurosceptic and is strongly critical of European integration. Besides politics, Hannan is a journalist; he has written newspaper leaders, a blog for The Daily Telegraph and currently writes for the online news website and aggregator CapX, and has published several books. Born in Peru, Hannan speaks Spanish and French fluently.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book after Britain had voted to leave the EU, which makes it all the more interesting in light of what they chose to do. I can only agree with Hannan that they've made the right decision. He brings out argument after argument for this being the best option, and shows time and again how it will be more beneficial for Britain in the long run; in fact, even in the short run (once they get up and running with the decision!)
It's of great concern that Britain's joining with the EU was based on lies, and worse, that the lies have only increased over the years, especially from the EU side.
I've just recommended this book to relatives in the UK who voted Remain. It's even more vital a read now.

[Herschel · Rating 3 out of 5]

For anyone who has been exposed to Daniel Hannan’s arguments for Brexit, there will be not much here that is new. This, in book form, is his rallying cry against the EU: “every continent in the world is growing except Europe and Antarctica”. He decries the fact that Britain is forced to prioritise its ties with the EU over those of the Commonwealth and looks to the “Anglosphere” for Britain’s trading future. He bemoans the cost and bureaucracy of Brussels. He laments the corrosive effect on democracy of the secret decision-making at the heart of the project, the ignored referendums and the lobbyist-infested corridors of power.

But Hannan has rightly identified that for his Eurosceptic side to win the argument - and the referendum in June - it will not be enough to simply denounce the EU. There must be a realistic alternative vision and one that is obviously better than the alternative. On the precise details of this he is sketchy but optimistic - and he presents some compelling evidence. Britain would keep more of its own money, membership of the WTO means punitive trade barriers could not spring up where none were before and our fate would gently diverge from that of the rest of the EU - rather than an abrupt divorce.

He is strongest when arguing that the status quo is not an option on June 23rd - rather it is a choice between being sucked further into the structures of a highly integrationist EU or the shock of something separate and ill-defined.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having just read this book I am now convinced that the EU totally corrupt. The list of reasons for leaving is endless!

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, well written case for leaving the EU. It is a great shame that Boris's Leave campaign has made such poor use of Hannan's expertise and sound arguments.

[Mackiemesser · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit to being on Hannan's side of the argument before I read this book, but I was surprised how often he, in my opinion, did not properly support the arguments he was making. He would very often assert, for example, that the EU would nefariously rig a process to push through their agenda but rarely describe the mechanism by which they did it. If he didn't wish to ruin the narrative flow by listing the evidence in the body of the book he certainly could have done it via footnote.

As some other reviewers have mentioned, Hannan makes no bones about this book being a polemic. Fair enough, but as a reader I required more evidence for some of his claims.

I'm wondering if the necessarily rushed schedule for publishing the book has something to do with this. The book, it appears, was published soon after Cameron's renegotiation of February 2016 so that the public could have access to it in advance of the vote on June 23, 2016. Depth of evidence was perhaps not Hannan's primary concern considering that timeframe.

That being said, he does support some of his claims and when he does it can be quite damning of the EU institutions. The appendix at the rear of the book when he refutes the primary arguments for staying in is an example of this.

Overall, Hannan is an elegant writer and this book is a good introduction to the case being made by the Leave side in the months before June 2016. Just don't expect academic level proof for some of his thesis.

[Ken Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Apr 2016] Like a lot of people, I want my decision in the EU referendum to be based on evidence. I was one of the few who read the highlights of HM Treasury report - the one that said leaving the EU would be a disaster for the UK - and found it unfathomable, unhelpful and untrustworthy. I stumbled on Dan Hannan on the internet and thought he sounded clear and talked simply, hence my choice of this book. I have to say I was not disappointed. This small book is extremely well written in a non-academic, conversational style and is based on his personal insight as a long-standing MEP. It is up-to-date and sets out the economic, political and democratic reasons for leaving the EU. He argues well and I must say, on reflection, is very convincing. It was an enjoyable, surprising and absorbing read - I could not put it down for long. He takes a reasoned and balanced approach - looking carefully at all the usual reasons politicians give for voting Remain - he provides evidence to disprove the theories one-by-one and it builds into a compelling argument for voting leave. I was left feeling informed, enthused and passionate about my vote now. However I entirely accept these sort of decisions are, for many, more than about 'facts' and that for some emotions, aspirations and 'different facts' based on long standing political allegiance are important. If you are unsure how to vote in the forthcoming referendum then I recommend you read this book

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute insightful and well researched piece of work. As a UK citizen bombarded with the speculation and constant balderdash streamed through the media it was simply great to read a perspective that actually makes sense. The historical background and the effects of being controlled by the EU are clearly illustrated. I believe in this country and it needs to redeem itself from pessimistic individuals. Well done Daniel Hartman !

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a clear explanation of what is right and what is wrong with the European Union. In my view if everyone had read this book there would be much more clarity about the issues and much less division in the country.

If you haven't read it, it's clear, easy and illuminating.

[CA Ram Melam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though the life and purpose of this book is short, it can be used as a study which helps us to avoid handing over our affairs into the hands of others. This book also serves as history UK and EU affairs. Thanks to Mr. Daniel Hanan.

[Jonny Brick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book-length PPE essay full of wishful thinking, selected evidence and not enough about the immigration arguments that did turn the voters' heads. Useful stuff about various things to do with fishing and farming, though. I hope he's happy.

[Tsetso Bikov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye-opening

After having read this book, it makes so much more sense why the UK is better-off outside the EU. A must-read for everyone who is still on the Remain side.

[Houssem Hajlaoui · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still relevant after the referendum.
The actual case and plea for Brexit.

[Daniel and Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hannan, as MEP since 1999, is well-placed to critique and provides an impassioned and persuasive piece for Brexit. However, despite generously filled with quality references, statistics and personal experiences, note warily that it reaches for anecdotal descriptions and sweeping accusations a little often. Along with Hannan's background, it is sufficient to foment doubts on veracity and interpretation at times. Regardless, it provides arguments backed up by numbers and research of quality above and beyond that which dominated the airwaves leading up to Brexit - and Britain would have been better for it, had there been more of these leading up to the referendum.

For example, he criticises EU regulations and bans on health products and supplements as example of big pharma profiteering, with his view being "most of these products are harmless placebos", in a somewhat condescending and alarmingly dismissive manner for a matter of scientific and health considerations. This aura surfaces through the book - which is filled with various pro-Brexit (such as port regulations destroying the british industry) examples but spanning little more than several paragraphs, and the language peppered with stigmatising generalisations such as "cronyism" by "Eurocrats".

However, the text excels on trends and economic numbers that support the position that EU is more heavily dependent on the UK than it cares to admit; the UK has strengths that may succeed beyond the regulatory overreach and limitations of a bloc that tries to be more than a trade bloc (whose overreach already affect sovereign parliamentary powers, but many are still unaware of); and that British economic success outside of the EU is sufficiently probable to tip the scales on favour of Brexit. This rises above the noise of immigration and racism that has simplistically tarred the debate, often unfairly in favour of Remain and against the perceived lesser educated, and more aged support base of Brexit. The importance of economics, policy, procedures and parliamentary powers are concisely parsed for the masses to decide, and not avoided and couched in simplistic catchphrases without citation. And this is where Vote Leave succeeds.

Readers should ultimately note that Hannan is a dyed in wool Conservative, columnist and former speech writer the likes of William Hague - that makes him a propagandist, and a very eloquent one, in the neutral sense of the word. He is also a senior member of the Vote Leave campaign, so his text is aimed to persuade, not to provide an impartial paper on the subject. As he excellently puts to a pro-Remain Labour MP Emma Reynolds (whom he demolishes on a BBC news debate readily available on the web), he can see arguments for Remain, but it is not his job to tell what they are.

That is what you will find in Vote Leave.

[Irene · Rating 1 out of 5]

In this book, Daniel Hannah has a very long and tedious rant about how even the existence of the EU is a bad idea, and what he thinks are the good reasons the UK always wanted to stay out of it, and now wants to leave.

He seemed to have completely missed the irony that the same UK tried for various times to join said EU, until it finally succeeded. He fails to explore the reasons why.

Given Hannah's political career, I was hoping for a more factual and well supported exposure of the facts behind the Leave party's argument.
I was disappointed! Or perhaps naive.

I found the writing style whiney and the presentation of data skewed, if not outright wrong in places.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect length, accessible to any reader, yet with charming prose. The book argues clearly and concisely the case to vote leave. I found it easy to pick up and read on, and could have finished within the day had I so desired. While obviously written with bias, the facts within are accurate and cited. A recommended read for any person intending to vote in the referendum; the least we can do for our country is be informed voters.

[John Frankham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb book from the long-standing MEP, happy to vote himself out of a job. Written before the vote, but now with a post-vote addition. It posed the question: if we were not a member of the EU, would we want to join? And showed that for the political and economic future and health of the U.K., the answer was, unequivocally NO. So, be brave, and positive, and ignore the doom-mongers. Calm, analytical and convincing.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book which shows clearly why we must leave the EU as soon as possible. He makes his point very honestly and believably.

He is also encouraging us to take away his well paid job. Definitely the way to go in my opinion.

[Grant Mackin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An articulate and in-depth case put forward for Brexit. Highly informative and enlightening facts about the true nature and objectives of the European Union. Bland and dry in some parts with too many facts and figures. However, an insightful and enjoyable read overall.

[Richard Trimble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly polemic account of the EU from someone who has worked inside it for years. Many of the arguments are strong but don't expect a list of pros and cons, this is all about the diatribe.

[Nick Burridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be careful what you wish for......