A few days remain to keep us in the EU
Local Lib Dems are stressing the importance of securing a positive vote to remain in the EU in the referendum on Thursday June 23.
Josephine Hanney published a letter in a local paper pointing out that remaining in the EU and working together was the best way to protect jobs and exports which, in turn, are so important in enabling the UK to fund vital public services such as the NHS. The full version of the letter can be seen below.
Dear Editor
Slough's better off remaining in the EU
It will be good for Slough if the UK votes to remain in the EU in the referendum on 23rd June. On a whole range of issues including jobs, protecting our environment and combating terrorism more is to be gained than lost by continuing to work with partners within the EU.
Slough is just the type of town with high-tech industries that benefits most from the fact that the UK receives the lion's share of the EU's investment in Research & Development. Where will this investment come from if we leave the EU?
The UK's vital public services such as our NHS depend on a successful economy to generate the money to support them. So, it's important to consider some key economic facts.
Some of the UK's now most successful industries, such as the car industry, have been revitalised by major investment from overseas companies. They decided to invest in the UK in order to employ the skilled workers here to manufacture goods they knew they could easily export to countries throughout the EU. In total, over 40% of the UK's exports go to the rest of the EU, while only 16% of the exports from the rest of EU come to the UK. If we say we want to leave the club, they are likely to make it that much harder for us to continue the current level of export. Jobs would be put at risk.
On environmental issues, too, we benefit from being in the EU so we can tackle problems, such as pollution, that do not stop at national borders.
We live in a tough world facing many problems. Remaining in the EU and working together to address the problems seems the best way forward.
Josephine Hanney
A week ago the Lib Dem party leadership wrote to thank all the Lib Dem campaigners for so enthusiastically campaigning in support of the UK remaining in the EU. They wrote:
"It's fantastic to see so many of our members enthusiastically supporting the #INtogether campaign in their communities across the UK. Let's step up the fight in these last two weeks to ensure that we get out the vote and secure the referendum result that Britain needs".
Meanwhile Amarjeet Bhamra, a local Lib Dem campaigner, has designed a graphic to highlight the Lib Dem belief that it is better if we vote to remain IN the EU:
