It is vital that we get these policies right as we take forward our plans to drive down the deficit and transform our economy.

Taken as a whole, Europe's share of world output is projected to fall by almost a third in the next two decades. This is the competitiveness challenge - and much of our weakness in meeting it is self-inflicted. Complex rules restricting our labour markets are not some naturally occurring phenomenon.

Since 2004, Britain has been the destination for 1 in 5 of all inward investments into Europe. And being part of the Single Market has been key to that success.

The political system is broken, the economy is broken and so is society. That is why people are so depressed about the state of our country.

People feel that the EU is heading in a direction that they never signed up to. They resent the interference in our national life by what they see as unnecessary rules and regulation. And they wonder what the point of it all is. Put simply, many ask 'why can't we just have what we voted to join - a common market?'

Every time I visit Iraq or Afghanistan I am blown away.

NCS - National Citizen Service is a fantastic programme. I want it to be available for every young person in the country.