LETTER: What the EU has done for UK

A few weeks ago I responded to two letters favouring the OUT campaign for the coming EU ReferendumLord Hore, one of the writers, suggested that many people were undecided because they did not have enough information to make a considered opinion.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th May 2016, 18:00 BST

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Going the rounds on Facebook recently has been a piece posted by Simon Sweeney of University of York. Entitled What did the EU ever do for the UK? he says not much, and proceeds to list 40 different reasons why we should remain as part of the EU.

It is beyond the scope of this letter to list them all but there are certain things that might be of interest to the undecided.

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What did the EU do for the UK? Well. It has provided 57 per cent of our trade; has given structural funding to areas hit by industrial decline; cleaner beaches and rivers; cleaner air; lead-free petrol; restrictions on landfill dumping; a recycling culture.

It has improved consumer protection and food labeling; banned growth hormones and other harmful food additives; provided better product safety.

All of this is nothing compared with its greatest achievements: the EU has for 60 years been the foundation of peace between European neighbours after centuries of bloodshed.

It furthermore assisted the extraordinary political, social and economic transformation of 13 former dictatorships, now EU members, since 1980.

Simon Sweeney ends his post with this plea:

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‘You in the UK should reflect on whether our net contribution of £7bn out of total government expenditure of £695bn is good value. We must play a full part in enabling the union to be a force for good in a multi-polar global future.’

Let us think carefully what we might be throwing away by voting with Brexit.

Dr LESLEY HENDY

Comptons Lane, Horsham

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