Entrepreneur and Ebac founder John Elliott says Brexit can and will work

But Brexit has shown more than anything that I actually overrated them.

The fact that most of the western world has similar politicians explains why the world has so many fundamental problems. Problems that can be solved with vision, ambition and leadership.

Millions of people live in threat of their lives. Millions live on a subsistence basis with no hope of improving their lives. It does not have to be like this, but we need change. Most of the world institutions such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation, are run by people who are in the same club as our politicians.

John Elliott

These people are passionate, hard working, determined and totally focused. It is these traits that have got them into places of power and influence.

But this total dedication and focus has a side effect. These people are so totally focussed that they never look at the bigger picture or question what they are doing. They are programmed to maintain the status quo.

Some people accuse them of only doing what is good for themselves. I do not believe this is the case. I believe they are unable to see anything other than their own personal circumstances in the present moment, whereas if they were simply looking for the best position for themselves in the new post-referendum circumstances, they would have changed to the leave position.

They are absolutely unable to see how leaving the European Union could work. Senior politicians such as Philip Hammond are prepared to sacrifice their very successful careers rather than leave the EU. This must be down to lack of ability to stand back and weigh up the options.

What confirms this blind spot is the fact that most who are determined at all cost to remain in the EU accept that it is not a good organisation.

It must follow that they are simply blind to seeing the UK outside of the EU even though this is the position of most countries in the world.

It is also true that despite it being easier to trade in the EU, 56 per cent of our trade is already outside of the EU. Everything that we trade within the EU can be traded in the wider world and probably on better terms. Even in the three years since the referendum, the EU performance has worsened with many fundamental problems that are not being sorted out.

This is blatantly clear to everyone except the dedicated political remainers. If it is true that our politicians are totally resistant to change, it is likely that they are making bad decisions on most things. We will only get better if we change – and that is the problem.

Unfortunately, these highly motivated people in positions of power and influence will fight to stop change even being considered.

But if we do not change things will stay the same. We have an industrial strategy that has not worked and never will.

Anyone who uses the NHS knows that it suffers from poor organisation. Our police force is focused on being politically correct at the expense of dealing with wrong doers. HS2 is an enormous white elephant. We’re collectively living beyond our means because the country is borrowing enormous sums that can never be repaid.

The good news is that most voters understand it does not need to be like this. The problem is the options they have to vote for in an election. We need better people to run the country.

John Elliott founded dehumidifier and water cooler manufacturer Ebac in 1972 in Bishop Auckland. Now based in Newton Aycliffe, the company has recently introduced the first UK designed and manufactured washing machine range for 40 years, and its dehumidifiers are in 1.25m UK homes.

No stranger to politics, in 2004 Mr Elliott was chairman of the North-East Says No campaign, which successfully fought against the Labour government’s plans for a regional assembly. Another of the leaders of that campaign was Dominic Cummings, who is now Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s special adviser.