SPEAKERS stressed the importance of sovereignty over an undemocratic super-state as the Cumbria Vote Leave leaders held its launch meeting on Monday night.

The meeting, which later turned into a lively debate, was chaired by Lord Cavendish at Cartmel Racecourse. Lord Cavendish confirmed that he is involved with the Vote Leave campaign as an individual, not as the head of the Holker Estate Company Ltd but said: "I passionately believe that we need to leave the EU. As somebody who has sat on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords, it saddens me to go against the current government in this regard but I have to stand up for what I believe to be right."

At the meeting, there were four speakers, Lord Cavendish, chairman of the event; Paul White, the regional director of the Vote Leave campaign; David Campbell Bannerman, the Conservative MEP for the East of England and John Stanyer, the Ukip chairman for the North West.

The meeting was open to any individuals who wanted to learn more about the Vote Leave campaign and Lord Cavendish welcomed members of the In campaign to challenge any points raised by the Vote Leave panel.

Mr White pointed out that Cumbria is one of the most Euro-sceptic counties in the country but said that had very little to do with issues over immigration. He said Cumbrian people felt that sovereignty is more important and want to take back control of some of the industries that have been crippled by EU regulation and bureaucracy - such as fishing, farming and the steel industry.

Mr Stanyer also addressed the figures released yesterday by George Osborne, who claimed that a Brexit would cost households £4,300 a year. He said: "Those figures were completely bogus and part of the scaremongering campaign that is being peddled by the government. We need the backing of the public because we don't have the money being ploughed into our campaign like David Cameron does. 

"Those leaflets that cost £9.3m have seen us recruit more people than we thought possible. That is because British people and especially northern people don't like to see smaller parties or organisations bullied. We have people who have the courage to break ranks and vote for an invigorated, self-governed Britain."

All four speakers agreed that they would not be taking such action if David Cameron had followed through with his promises for a dramatic reform but have been forced to take matters into their own hands because they feel the super-state that the EU is growing into will eventually push out British democracy. They believe Britain must vote out to regain control over its own laws, trade and security.