Ulster Unionist MP Tom Elliott '˜leaning towards' voting to quit the EU

Ulster Unionist MP Tom Elliott has said that he is 'leaning towards' voting to leave the EU, but is not totally decided on the issue.
UUP MP Tom Elliott. Pic Colm Lenaghan/PacemakerUUP MP Tom Elliott. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
UUP MP Tom Elliott. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Despite the UUP endorsing a Remain vote and his own concerns about the impact of a Brexit on the Union, the Fermanagh-South Tyrone MP said that “on balance” he was “probably” likely to vote to leave.

The former Ulster Unionist leader told the News Letter that he had not been impressed by either of the two rival “negative” campaigns and would not be endorsing either.

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“It has been extremely negative stuff, most of it innuendo and what might happen,” he said.

“I’m just going by how Europe has done for us so far.

“On balance, I’m probably on the side of voting to leave. But it’s not hard and fast.”

Mr Elliott said that he was still undecided on the issue, but was “leading towards” the leave side of the argument.

“My most important concern about voting to leave is what it would mean for the United Kingdom, especially around the Scottish issue if they were to again try to leave the UK.

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“On the other hand, I just thought that the whole EU court structure...has been overbearing and overburdensome on small businesses, farmers and even our legal system.”

Mr Elliott said that the EU system was “quite a burdensome process”, but that such a bureaucracy was difficult to avoid in a union of 28 countries.

He added that the UUP contained a range of opinions on the issue, but said that was in common with other parties such as the Conservatives, Labour and even the DUP.