Wycombe District Councillor Brian Pearce, who used to represent UKIP, explains why he has supported Brexit for more than 20 years. He writes:

People often say to me, as a district councillor you are only involved with local matters, so how are they affected by the EU?

Well, I believe that the tentacles of the EU, apart from stretching across the Channel, come all the way up High Wycombe’s High Street, right up to our front doors.

One of the arguments for staying in the EU is that it will affect trade. Let me state that I don’t think for one minute that the bosses of Mercedes, BMW or Volkswagen are going to stop selling their cars to us.

By the same token, I am quite convinced that people will still want to buy the Mini, which is made in Oxford.

One of the main disadvantages of remaining in the EU is the cost – we pay in £12 billion a year, and we receive back in grants £4 billion.

With the saving of £8 billion, I am quite convinced that infrastructure, particularly in Bucks, would be greatly improved, with money available to not only fill potholes but to resurface our roads.

People in favour of the EU always say that we export a tremendous amount to Europe, but it is my understanding that, whilst many of our exported loaded containers do initially go to Rotterdam to be sorted, they are then placed on larger container ships with other containers and sent around the world.

And don’t get me started on the problems our small businesses face with red tape and regulation that percolate down from the EU.

Of course, probably the biggest disadvantage of the EU is the loss of sovereignty – we cannot control our borders as they are subject to ridiculous regulations because of the undemocratic set-up with the EU.

It is my belief that we would be far, far better off outside of the EU, trading with the whole world. The resultant £8 billion saving will go a long way to solving the roads, housing and NHS crisis.