Letter: Europe: in or out
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Letter:
Europe: in or out
Sir: The extent to which Lord Ahmed and his co-signatories (letter, 28 July) are out of touch with public opinion is demonstrated by their statement that the anti-euro view is "rejected by the vast majority of British people". More than 60 per cent of all votes cast on 10 June were for parties opposed to the single currency.
The "vast majority" are not fools and can easily calculate the number of hospitals and schools that could be built with the pounds 5,488m (net) we contribute to Brussels every year. They know, too, that the three and a half million jobs which Lord Ahmed claims are linked to Europe will not be lost if we remain outside EMU (or outside the EU altogether) because Europe sells us pounds 8bn more per year than we sell them. For their own benefit, the EU countries would need to continue to trade with us on the same terms enjoyed by Norway and Switzerland.
The Britain in Europe group is, however, right on one point: our country's future does indeed depend on the outcome of this debate. If their views prevail, then the future is indeed bleak. Our absorption into a federal states of Europe would mean the consequent loss of nationhood and with it the ability to set our own laws, set our own taxes and control our own destiny.
As for the group's promise to keep the British people fully informed, I haven't noticed them informing us of the current EU proposals to change our centuries-old legal system with the proposed corpus juris. Among other things this would abolish the writ of habeas corpus, trial by jury and the principle of "innocent until proven guilty".
LAWRENCE BOXALL
Sandhurst, Berkshire
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments