Advantages of EU membership and the Disadvantages of withdrawal for the UK and Wales.

By Cllr Gwyn Hopkins

·       “To preserve peace and liberty ……among the people of Europe” was the main aim of the Common Market when formed in 1957.  With no war between any of its member states since, this aim has been achieved – ample reason for the UK to remain in the (renamed) European Union.

·      A second major and noble principle was/is to share wealth more evenly among member states and within member states.  No UK government has ever done this which has ensured that Wales is always the most impoverished and neglected country in the UK.  Recognised economic indicators show that the UK is the 2nd richest state in the EU (after Germany).  This is why it is, overall. a contributor country to the Union.  However, Wales consistently gains financially from the EU (£245 million in 2015) because it is a relatively poor country.

·      It is a fact that the EU is the UK’s largest trading partner. Almost half of our exports go to the EU.  A reduction in these exports is very likely if the UK withdraws from the EU.

·      Two Hundred Thousand UK businesses trade with the EU, helping them to create jobs (This is another fact – Source: Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs Service).  UK withdrawal will probably cause some – even many – of these going out of business.

·      Over 3 million UK jobs are linked to our trade with the EU – 10% of UK jobs (Another fact – Source: Office for National Statistics, House of Commons Library).  Consequently, UK withdrawal from the EU could well lead to major job losses.

·      Of course. there’s no guarantee that these exports, businesses and jobs will all be fully protected if the UK remains in the EU (after all, circumstances do change with time).  However, the risk to them is undoubtedly much higher if the UK leaves the EU, so much so that voting to leave the EU can only be described as reckless.

·      Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has stated that the UK was in some respects “the leading beneficiary” of the single market, and that EU membership was an important factor in the UK’s strong economic performance during the last 4 decades.

·      In a letter published in “The Times” newspaper on 10th March 2016 , 150 top UK Scientists (Fellows of the Royal Society) state that it would be a “Disaster for Science in the UK” if we withdraw from the EU.  They include the world-famous Cosmologist, Stephen Hawking (Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University).

·      Wales top entrepreneur, billionaire Terry Mathews (owner of the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport) states in the Western Mail of 8 June: “the benefits of EU membership greatly outweigh the cost of membership” and  “if we vote to leave the EU it would be an absolute disaster for British business and the UK economy”

·      With buffoons like Michael Gove and Boris Johnson (England’s Donald Trump!) and the London Tory Tabloids in favour of the UK leaving the EU, it’s got to be the wrong option.  Following the lead  given by people like Mark Carney, John Major, Dafydd Wigley, Terry Mathews and Stephen Hawking is surely the wiser option.

·      UK holidaymakers get free emergency healthcare in EU countries.  This will cease if the UK leaves.

·      UK farmers (especially Welsh farmers) benefit financially very considerably from the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy.  It is very unlikely that the UK government will cover their losses after withdrawal.  Some farmers are very likely to go out of business.

·      The value of the £ is likely to fall markedly if the UK leaves the EU, making imports and holidays in Europe a good deal more expensive.

Facts relating to EU IMMIGRATION INTO THE UK.

·      Many EU migrants are well qualified.

·      The vast majority are young people who seek work.  They are needed to provide for the needs of our ageing population – by providing services, paying taxes and national insurance contributions.  Our NHS, hotels and guesthouses, many farmers employing casual labour and the transport systems of many UK cities would suffer greatly without migrant workers – those from the EU and elsewhere.

·      A study by University College London found that, during the period 2001- 2011, EU immigrants paid £20bn more in taxes into the UK Treasury than they received in benefits.

·      EU immigrants’ unemployment rate is lower than the UK average.

·      About 2.2 million Brits live in other EU countries, which more or less balances the 2.4 million EU citizens living in the UK.

·      EU migrants are less likely than UK citizens to claim benefits.