EU benefits out-weigh burdens

We have the Prime Minister claiming that we will get World War 3 if we vote leave and the leave campaign seem to be getting more and more deluded the closer the referendum comes.

What’s next? The four horsemen of the apocalypse to ride through the gates of Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey the moment a leave vote is announced?

Ten million foreign criminals to enter Britain and steal all the jobs if we choose to stay? I wouldn’t be surprised to hear those claims or similar claims in the final few days before the most important referendum in British history. What has been lacking is facts about the impact of either outcome on Britain after the referendum.

The truth is that we have benefited greatly from our membership of the EU. Sussex has seen hundreds of millions of pounds pumped directly into its universities and business while also allowing many of these businesses to sell their products and services to over 500 million people across the EU single market.

This will have undoubtedly benefitted the economy of Sussex and Britain as a whole.

Membership of the EU has also supported further improvements and safeguards for women’s and workers’ rights while also providing those wronged by the law and the justice system in the UK more chances to find justice.

Membership of the EU also provides benefits to young people, such as cheap air travel across Europe for those of us who travel for work or leisure and exchange programmes which allow students to study abroad without having to pay a huge amount for the privilege.

I must also say that there are problems with the EU, it is too bureaucratic and it has encouraged to an extent a rise in unrestrained free market capitalism in Europe, as advocated by the Conservatives and UKIP, which has left the poorest in Britain and the rest of Europe with substandard living conditions and little or no prospect of real, long term work and low wages.

But then again no multi-national organisation is perfect and the benefits of EU membership most definitely out way the burdens on Britain and its sovereignty at the moment.

The best way to improve the problems of the EU is to do so from the inside as a member.

Also, if we do vote to leave, the roof won’t fall in, there probably won’t be a recession (unless it’s caused by Tory mismanagement of the Economy) and the immediate impact won’t be obvious. It is undeniable however is that there will be years of uncertainty and the long term impact of a leave vote could very possibly be terminal to Britain?

So when you come to cast your vote on June 23 remember that you are not just making this decision for you and your family in the present and near future, but also countless future generations who will have to live with whatever decision we make.

Sam Theodoridi

Youth Co-ordinatior - Worthing West Labour Party

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