Brexit has become Britain's destiny

We have since then reported huge milestones.

When the first edition was produced by Francis Joy, the Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland was still far in the future.

In 1798, the grandson of Mr Joy, Henry Joy McCracken was hanged as a united Irishman. Many Presbyterians then wanted to cut the ties with GB. But now the cross-Irish Sea link is prospering.

The cross-channel link between the UK and mainland Europe, however, has become more problematic politically.

Britain’s place within the European Union became semi detached when the euro was founded, and the UK rightly decided to stay out. The currency may yet implode. But for it to work the EU will have to bind more tightly together, and so the UK is guaranteed to be on an even more remote outer tier than now.

Britain in any event did not join an European Union. It joined an EEC in 1973. That is what it needs to rejoin – a purely economic, trade arrangement – by quitting the EU, and reclaiming sovereignty.

This is not something we advise lightly, and we know many readers will disagree. There is no panacea outside the EU that will solve all our problems or lead to greatness.

Farmers will be anxious but reform of agriculture funding is happening anyway. Post Brexit farmers will be able to make their case directly to Westminster for some of the EU cash saved. No UK government would dare to ignore their needs.

But the UK has an extraordinary history and vitality, and the always Eurosceptic mood within the nation has become increasingly marked, even recently.

People are not fools. They know there is a democratic deficit in Brussels now, let alone if it becomes more powerful. They know terrorism and immigration are huge problems and that while Brexit will not solve them we need as much autonomy as possible to tackle them.

The UK has unrivalled links to the English speaking world. The proportion of UK goods exported to the EU has been shrinking. We will continue to be a leading player in Nato and a close ally of America.

The Common Travel Area with the Irish Republic pre-dates a world war so it will withstand Brexit.

Britain is one of the few European nations that can prosper outside the EU and it will. That has become its destiny.

Click here for numerous other political views on Brexit including Arlene Foster and Mike Nesbitt ahead of the June 23 vote