# Better Off Out

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Better_Off_Out
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Better_Off_Out.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Off_Out
> Source revision: 1352380369
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

UK political organisation

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (June 2016)

Part of a series on Brexit Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union Glossary of terms Background European Communities Act 1975 EC membership referendum UK rebate Bruges speech No. No. No. Maastricht Treaty (Rebels) Black Wednesday Treaty of Lisbon (Act) European Union Act 2011 UK opt-outs from EU legislation Euroscepticism in the UK UK opinion polling on EU membership Campaigns for a referendum People's Pledge Labour for a Referendum Bloomberg speech In or Out 2013–14 EU (Referendum) Bill (unsuccessful) 2014 European Parliament election 2014 UK Parliament by-elections Clacton Heywood and Middleton Rochester and Strood 2015 UK general election 2015–16 EU membership renegotiation 2016 referendum EU Referendum Act (Gibraltar) EU Referendum (Date of Referendum etc.) Regulations EU Referendum (Conduct) Regulations Issues Endorsements Opinion polling UK Government pro-EU leaflet Campaigns Leave campaigns Vote Leave (official) Business for Britain Conservatives for Britain BeLeave Leave.EU Bpoplive The Freedom Association Better Off Out Grassroots Out Labour Leave Get Britain Out Bruges Group Campaign for an Independent Britain Brexit: The Movie Remain campaigns Britain Stronger in Europe (official) Labour In for Britain European Movement UK Britain in Europe British Influence Business for New Europe Nucleus Project Fear Outcome Results Causes for result International reactions Immediate aftermath 2016 Conservative Party election 2016 Labour Party election 2016 UKIP election Department for Exiting the EU Department for International Trade Allegations of unlawful campaigning Alleged Russian interference Notice of withdrawal Article 50 process Miller case (Article 50) EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017 Brexit plan Repeal Bill plan 2017 UK general election Negotiations Negotiation positions EU negotiation mandate Chequers agreement Timeline: 2017, 2018, 2019 2019 European Parliament election 2019 UK general election Withdrawal agreement Brexit divorce bill Fish for finance Irish backstop No-deal Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol Northern Ireland Protocol Bill Windsor Framework Legislation Withdrawal Act 2018 (Gibraltar) Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018 Cooper–Letwin Act Benn Act 2019 suspension of rebel Conservative MPs Public Vote Bill (not passed) Terms of Withdrawal Bills (not passed) Scottish EU Continuity Bill (blocked) Withdrawal Agreement Act (Gibraltar) Scottish EU Continuity Act Internal Market Act EU (Future Relationship) Act Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act Impact Impact on the Irish border Good Friday Agreement Impact on the EU Economic effects Effects on Gibraltar Scientific cooperation Effects on popular culture Retained EU law 2021 Jersey dispute Boriswave EU–UK relations Relations pre- and post-Brexit EU–UK trade negotiation EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) Partnership Council Partnership Assembly Relations with EU member states Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Akrotiri and Dhekelia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Ireland–UK border British–Irish Council North/South Ministerial Council Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Status of Gibraltar Gibraltar–Spain border Sweden Conjectured EEA membership Opposition Post-referendum opinion polling New initiatives Change Britain More United Open Britain The New European Unite to Remain Led By Donkeys Revoke Article 50 petition Postcards from the 48% Proposed second Scottish independence referendum Calls for a second referendum People's Vote Britain for Europe European Movement UK For our Future's Sake Healthier IN the EU InFacts Open Britain Our Future Our Choice Scientists for EU Other organisations Best for Britain Bollocks to Brexit Change UK Liberal Democrats Right to Vote Timeline Bloomberg speech Jan 2013 Referendum Bill blocked Jan 2014 European Parliament election May 2014 2015 general election May 2015 Renegotiation begins Jun 2015 Referendum Act passed Dec 2015 Renegotiation concluded Feb 2016 Referendum held Jun 2016 David Cameron resigns as PM Jul 2016 Theresa May becomes PM Jul 2016 Article 50 judgement Jan 2017 Brexit plan presented Feb 2017 Notification Act passed Mar 2017 Article 50 invoked Mar 2017 Repeal Bill plan presented Mar 2017 2017 general election Jun 2017 Brexit negotiations begin Jun 2017 Withdrawal Act passed Jun 2018 Chequers plan presented Jul 2018 Withdrawal agreement plan presented July 2018 Withdrawal agreement released Nov 2018 Scottish Continuity Bill blocked Dec 2018 Meaningful votes Jan–Mar 2019 Brexit delayed until 12 April Mar 2019 Cooper–Letwin Act passed Apr 2019 Brexit delayed until 31 October Apr 2019 European Parliament election May 2019 Theresa May resigns as PM Jul 2019 Boris Johnson becomes PM Jul 2019 Prorogation and annulment Aug–Sep 2019 Benn Act passed Sep 2019 Withdrawal agreement revised Oct 2019 Brexit delayed until 31 January Oct 2019 2019 general election Dec 2019 Agreement Act passed Jan 2020 UK leaves the European Union Jan 2020 Implementation period begins Jan 2020 UK–EU trade deal agreed Dec 2020 Future Relationship Act passed Dec 2020 Scottish Continuity Act passed Dec 2020 Implementation period ends Dec 2020 New EU–UK relationship begins Jan 2021 UK–EU trade deal ratified Apr 2021 Windsor Framework released Feb 2023 Windsor framework adopted Mar 2023 EU portal UK portal v t e

**Better Off Out** (BOO) was a non-party campaign that called for the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom) (UK)'s withdrawal from the [European Union (EU)](/source/European_Union). It was run by [The Freedom Association](/source/The_Freedom_Association),[1] a [pressure group](/source/List_of_pressure_groups_in_the_United_Kingdom) that describes itself as non-partisan, [centre-right](/source/Centre-right_politics) and [libertarian](/source/Libertarianism), with links to the [Conservative Party](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)), The Brexit Party (now [Reform UK](/source/Reform_UK)) and the [UK Independence Party](/source/UK_Independence_Party) (UKIP). The campaign was formed in 2006[2] and was based in [Cheltenham](/source/Cheltenham), England.

## Supporters

The patrons of the campaign included [Norman Tebbit](/source/Norman_Tebbit),[2] the former chairman of the Conservative Party as well as author [Frederick Forsyth](/source/Frederick_Forsyth)[3] and Professor [Tim Congdon](/source/Tim_Congdon), an economist and former [UKIP](/source/UK_Independence_Party) [PPC](/source/Prospective_parliamentary_candidate).

[Bernard Weatherill](/source/Bernard_Weatherill), the former [Speaker of the House of Commons](/source/Speaker_of_the_House_of_Commons_(United_Kingdom)), was also a patron of the campaign until his death.[3]

### Members of Parliament

Prior to the [2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum](/source/2016_United_Kingdom_European_Union_membership_referendum), Better Off Out was supported by a number of Conservative [Members of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom)) including [Peter Bone](/source/Peter_Bone),[4] [Christopher Chope](/source/Christopher_Chope),[3] [David TC Davies](/source/David_TC_Davies),[3] [Philip Davies](/source/Philip_Davies),[4] [Gordon Henderson](/source/Gordon_Henderson_(politician)),[4] [Philip Hollobone](/source/Philip_Hollobone),[4] [David Nuttall](/source/David_Nuttall),[4] [Heather Wheeler](/source/Heather_Wheeler),[4] [Andrew Percy](/source/Andrew_Percy), [Laurence Robertson](/source/Laurence_Robertson) and [Richard Shepherd](/source/Richard_Shepherd).[3] A number of Conservative former members of parliament supported Better Off Out, including [Lady Ann Winterton](/source/Ann_Winterton), [Sir Nicholas Winterton](/source/Nicholas_Winterton), [John Biffen](/source/John_Biffen), [Eric Forth](/source/Eric_Forth), [Richard Body](/source/Richard_Body), [Bob Spink](/source/Bob_Spink), and [Jonathan Aitken](/source/Jonathan_Aitken).

The former [Labour](/source/Labour_Party_(UK)) MP for [Great Grimsby](/source/Great_Grimsby_(UK_Parliament_constituency)), [Austin Mitchell](/source/Austin_Mitchell) was also a supporter.[4] There were a number of [Democratic Unionist Party](/source/Democratic_Unionist_Party) MPs and [Members of the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly](/source/Member_of_the_Legislative_Assembly_(Northern_Ireland)), including their leader [Peter Robinson](/source/Peter_Robinson_(Northern_Ireland_politician)) and former leader [Ian Paisley](/source/Ian_Paisley). Others included [Gregory Campbell](/source/Gregory_Campbell_(politician)), [Nigel Dodds](/source/Nigel_Dodds), [Jeffrey Donaldson](/source/Jeffrey_Donaldson),[4] Dr. [William McCrea](/source/William_McCrea%2C_Baron_McCrea_of_Magherafelt_and_Cookstown), [Ian Paisley Jr](/source/Ian_Paisley_Jr), [Jim Shannon](/source/Jim_Shannon), [David Simpson](/source/David_Simpson_(Northern_Ireland_politician)) and [Sammy Wilson](/source/Sammy_Wilson_(politician)) as well as prominent members of the smaller [Traditional Unionist Voice](/source/Traditional_Unionist_Voice), including [William Ross](/source/William_Ross_(Unionist_politician)) and former MEP [Jim Allister](/source/Jim_Allister).

Former UKIP MP [Douglas Carswell](/source/Douglas_Carswell)[4] and former MP [Mark Reckless](/source/Mark_Reckless) were signatories.

### Members of the European Parliament

The Conservative MEPs at the time of the referendum [David Campbell Bannerman](/source/David_Campbell_Bannerman), [Roger Helmer](/source/Roger_Helmer) (who subsequently left the Conservative party and joined UKIP) and [Daniel Hannan](/source/Daniel_Hannan) also signed.[4]

### Academics and artists

Other non-political supporters included the academics [Ruth Lea](/source/Ruth_Lea%2C_Baroness_Lea_of_Lymm),[3] [Patrick Minford](/source/Patrick_Minford)[3] and [Alan Walters](/source/Alan_Walters).

### Management Committee

- Committee chairman: John Kershaw

- Hon. Secretary: Tony Hilder

- Hon. Treasurer: Michael McGough, Sir Mark Worthington (ex official), [Christopher Gill](/source/Christopher_Gill), Euan Stewart, Mark Wallace

- Chief Executive: Simon Richards

- Director: Rory Broomfield

- Head of Campaigns: Andrew Allison

- Campaigns Manager: [Rupert Matthews](/source/Rupert_Matthews)

## Conservative Party blacklisting

In March 2007 the [Conservative Central Office](/source/Conservative_Campaign_Headquarters) warned its party membership that BOO was contrary to [Conservative Party](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)) policy.[2]

## See also

- [Euroscepticism](/source/Euroscepticism)

- [Brexit](/source/Brexit)

- [Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum](/source/Russian_interference_in_the_2016_Brexit_referendum)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Better Off Out Campaign"](https://www.tfa.net/better_off_out). *The Freedom Association*. Retrieved 29 March 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bbc_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bbc_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-bbc_2-2) ["Tebbit supports EU exit campaign"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6511701.stm). *BBC News*. 30 March 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Gill_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Gill_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Gill_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Gill_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Gill_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Gill_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Gill_3-6) [Gill 2006](#Gill)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-mps_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-mps_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-mps_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-mps_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-mps_4-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-mps_4-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-mps_4-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-mps_4-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-mps_4-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-mps_4-9) ["Better Off Out"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180324181958/http://www.betteroffout.net/). *Better Off Out*. Archived from [the original](http://www.betteroffout.net/) on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2014.

## Further reading

- Gill, Christopher. 2006. [Letter from the Chairman](https://web.archive.org/web/20060814052456/http://www.tfa.net/pdfs/40605.pdf) (PDF), July/August 2006, Freedom TODAY, published by the Freedom Association. Retrieved 2008-07-08

## External links

- [Better off Out Campaign](https://www.tfa.net/better_off_out) at the Freedom Association website

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Better Off Out](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Off_Out) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Off_Out?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.