The EU Debate

It is said that "The first casualty of war is truth." Whilst not a war, the claims and counter claims between the Remain and Leave protagonists have become more acrimonious as the weeks have passed to the extent that the campaign is developing into a war of words where truth has certainly become a casualty.

As such it is very difficult to actually get a clear picture of the real pro's and con's and, no doubt, many, if not most, people will probably vote on 'gut instinct'. However, I have found that the BBC's Reality Check provides plenty of food for thought and does to some extent actually sort the chaff from the wheat.

For me, a Netherlander by birth, this is not about voting to leave Europe, but to leave an ever growing political organisation, hell bent on federalism, far removed from the EEC we joined in 1973. An organisation, in fact, where recent polls have indicated that there is an ever growing discontent with the way the EU is being run within many of its member states, including France (55%) and Germany (42%).

In that respect, it can be argued that by having a referendum, Britain is ahead of the game. Some even suggest a Brexit win will cause a domino effect with other countries following suit. Now isn't that a good reason to leave, where true democracy ( the people not the self-serving politicians having their say) would finally be exercised.

In 1973, when Britain joined the EEC, along with Denmark and Ireland, there were just nine member countries which meant that Britain's voice could be heard and actually carried some weight. Today we have 28 member countries with six, mainly Balkan states, plus Iceland (and, yes Turkey) in the process of joining. How loud will Britain's voice be then? I can see it now- "Sorry did Britain say something?"

Given that over 25 per cent of the EU budget already goes to the poorer countries, how much will that increase when Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and potentially Kosovo (all relatively poor countries) finally join. Not only will their joining result in an increase in open border immigration as their populations look to earn more in richer countries, (money most of them send home), but a greater proportion of the funds we pay into the budget will be spent on these countries too.

We have all heard claims about how bloated, undemocratic, unaccountable and even corrupt, the EU has become. Just think what it will be like in 10 years time with potentially 35 countries as members.

More bloated, more undemocratic (increased by countries block voting just as they do in the Eurovision Song Contest), more diluted accountability and because it is already an almost impossible task to audit the EU's finances, increased corruption.

The campaign from the Remain side started with claims that Britain would loose its position as a world leader with international influence if it left the EU. Quite frankly, we are already punching above our weight and all that our influence has got us in recent years is two flawed wars in Iraq, a whole lot of mess in Libya and the impossible task of resolving the problems of Afghanistan where anyone with an eye to history could have told our leaders that we had a snowball in hell's chance of really winning. In the process, instead of defeating terrorism, we have just fanned the flames. If this is what being an EU member gives us, the sooner we are out the better.

Others have already argued their case re the financial significance of remaining in or leaving the EU. The only thing I would say is that anyone who is predicting what the cost will be to families in 2030, or even four or five years ahead is, frankly, a liar. There is no way on this earth that anyone or any institution can predict the financial climate so far ahead, regardless of what model they use.

Just look at how frequently budget growth, inflation and GDP forecasts change in just the space of a year or how quickly the gamblers on world's stock and money markets change at the slightest hint of a problem of any kind. Look no further than the price of oil!

Interestingly enough, there was a comment from one listener on Radio Stoke who asked, "If leaving the EU presents such a huge financial risk to Britain and it's future, as claimed by the Chancellor, et al, why did David Cameron call a Referendum?" Now that is worth thinking about!

In, out, in out, shake it all about, it's Britain's future, that's what they all shout. Unfortunately, David Cameron didn't shake hard enough when he had the chance, returning with watered down concessions that have left us with no option but to vote 'OUT'.

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