Brexit backers take to Sunderland streets as polling day approaches

Brexit campaigners say leaving the EU would 'bring back democracy' to the North East as its activists took to the streets of Wearside to gather support.
The Vote Leave Battle Bus in Sunderland, with UKIP MEP Jonathan Arnott in front.The Vote Leave Battle Bus in Sunderland, with UKIP MEP Jonathan Arnott in front.
The Vote Leave Battle Bus in Sunderland, with UKIP MEP Jonathan Arnott in front.

The Vote Leave bus pulled into Sunderland city centre as part of a tour of the region, bringing together members of differing parties as they spoke to shoppers on Holmeside about their views.

The group says a vote in favour of leaving the EU on June 23 will mean Britain will take control of the £350million a week it gives to Brussels, give the country control of its boarders and “kick out violent criminals”, regain control over its laws and where money is spent.

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It also says it will free businesses from its regulations, help it make its own trade agreements, increase its influence and pave the way for better relations with other countries, with more opportunity to made trade deals with China, India and Australia.

Among the group was North East UKIP MEP Jonathan Arnott, who said: “We have got the message that we are taking out to people across the North East of democracy, that independence from the European Union will mean we will be financially better off if we left.

“We will be able to take control once again of our money, our democracy, our law making and our immigration.

“Looking at somewhere like Sunderland, I have met fishermen from here who have seen their industry destroyed by the EU.

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“Generally speaking we always see one or two negative views, but as we give out our message here in Sunderland and across the North East is that we have support and I think what we will see people voting to leave the EU on June 23.”

Barbara Hill, 53, a housewife of Ashbrooke, was among those to show her support for the campaign.

She said: “I will vote to leave.

“Immigration is at the top of the agenda, I think we should be helping ourselves before we help others, and although we should definitely help them, they shouldn’t be getting the same benefits, it should be for our own and for our soldiers.

“I think if we leave, we’ll be OK,

“I think there’s been a lot of scaremongering, especially from Cameron.

“There’s no housing or jobs, we need to sort that out.”

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The Britain Stronger in Europe campaign says staying in the EU will protect the three million jobs linked with its trade, ensure £66million of funding each day continues and bring another 790,000 jobs by 2030 if it remains.

It says economists have found leaving would cost each household between £850 to £1,700 worse off, lead to 950,000 job losses by 2020 and leave the economy £100billion worse off and lead to £40billion in spending cuts by 2030, hitting investment in the NHS.