EU: Why I'm supporting the 'Remain' campaign

Immigration is the defining argument that will decide the upcoming European Union in-out referendum. The ‘free movement of people’ and the perceived stereotype of European citizens only immigrating to Britain for the purposes of ‘stealing’ British jobs and to become a ‘health tourist’ is already, the argument that represents the corner stone of the ‘out’ campaign’s primary argument. And this incorrect perception simply distorts the benefits of Britain remaining a European Union member state.

In the lead up to the 2015 General Election the ‘poster boy’ of the ‘out’ campaign, Nigel Farage, stood on live national television during the ITV political debate and claimed “You can come to Britain from anywhere in the world and get diagnosed with HIV and get the retro-viral drugs that cost up to £25,000 per year per patient. I know there are some horrible things happening in many parts of the world, but what we need to is put the National Health Service there for British people and families who in many cases have paid into this system for decades.” Now the latter part of this statement is true – the NHS is primarily tasked with the responsibility of maintaining the healthcare of those who are British, however the NHS is also responsible for providing positive healthcare for those residing in the United Kingdom who are in fact – European. In regards to reducing the perceived number of Europeans committing ‘health tourism’ – it is an accepted fact that withdrawal of our membership, would result in foreign citizens having to apply for visas in order to enter Britain, however how does Nigel Farage and the ‘out’ campaign justify the shutdown of the NHS that would occur when the possible withdrawal of our membership results in thirty-seven percent of NHS staff having to most likely to vacate their positions, according to the Guardian newspaper. Not only will UKIP’s disastrous policy of implementing an ‘American style’ healthcare system jeopardise the integrity of our nation’s health service, but their insistence of withdrawing from a union that provides almost half our medical workforce will cripple the NHS beyond even today’s critical standards. To protect Britain’s healthcare service – I’ll be opting to stay in Europe.

The ‘out’ campaign believes that by withdrawing from the European Union, Britain will become legally autonomous.  To an extent, they are correct, as under the European Communities Act of 1972 European Union law is supreme as it must be implemented into UK legislation. However, the rest of their arguments are misguided – by opting to remain an EU member Britain has access to the European Arrest Warrant – being in Europe, working with our closest neighbours and partners to tackle threats, makes Britain safer. Whether it’s implementing sanctions against Russia, sharing intelligence regarding terrorism or arresting criminals using the European Arrest Warrant, there is strength in numbers. For example, Hussein Osman, a terrorist involved in the bomb attack on London in July 2005, is one of over four-hundred criminals who have been returned to face justice in Britain under the European Arrest Warrant after fleeing to Europe. He was caught in Italy, brought back to Britain, and sentenced to 40 years imprisonment. Leaving the European Union would not only threaten our safety, but deny us the ability to return criminals to face justice in the nations where they committed their crime. We are stronger and more secure as part of Europe than on our own - and that was the reason the EU was established… to insure the events of either world wars could not be repeated and to provide security in numbers as one, unified bloc. The ‘out’ campaign threatens the integrity of European wide justice and to insure our freedom and security is maintained – I will be opting in.

If we wish Britain to remain a leader in the world, we need to be in Europe helping to take the big decisions – not sitting on the side-lines. In today’s complex world, the UK has more control over its destiny by staying inside organisations like the EU. We would never dream of leaving the UN or NATO. Why would we leave the EU? Being part of Europe means we have stronger leadership on the world stage, enabling us to shape the future – influencing others through participation and remaining a ‘team player’ rather than a ‘screaming child’ sat in the corner of the North Sea. Britain is not Britain unless we are outward-looking, engaged in our continent and leading in Europe. To leave Europe would mean less influence on the world stage, and less say in the future. We are stronger in Europe than on our own – and to insure that our European, our global influence, is maintained – I will be opting in.

Being a member of the European Union makes our economy stronger, helping British businesses small and large, creating jobs for British people, and delivering lower prices for British families. Almost half of all the goods we sell and export to the rest of the world we sell to the European marketplace - and we receive an average of twenty-four billion pounds of investment into Britain per year from Europe. The Confederation of British Industry estimates that three million jobs in Britain are linked to trade with the rest of Europe. Being part of Europe also means cheaper prices in our supermarkets, cheaper flights to Europe and lower phone charges when traveling. The average person in Britain saves around four-hundred a fifty pounds every year, as trading with Europe nails down the price of goods and services. And we definitely receive more than we contribute. Our annual contribution is equivalent to £340 for each household and yet the CBI says that all the trade, investment, jobs and lower prices that come from our economic partnership with Europe is worth three-thousand pounds per year to every UK household. That’s a return on investment of almost ten to one. Negotiating as part of a five-hundred million-strong economy also provides us with clout we could never have on our own. Thanks to our membership of the European Union, we benefit from free trade agreements with fifty countries around the world. So why would we risk our economic security by turning our backs on Europe? There will be no going back if we vote leave. And if we do leave – we will be cut off from automatic access to the economic benefits that the EU brings, hitting businesses, risking jobs and threatening families’ financial security. To ensure that Britain’s economic and financial future is maintained – I’ll be opting in.

Immigration is the defining argument that will decide the upcoming European Union in-out referendum. The ‘free movement of people’ and the perceived stereotype of European citizens only immigrating to Britain for the purposes of ‘stealing’ British jobs and to become a ‘health tourist’ is already, the argument that represents the corner stone of the ‘out’ campaign’s primary argument.

I began my article with this statement – the human aspect of leaving the European Union appears to be the ‘be-all and end-all’ argument of those who maintain that voting ‘out’ is the best option for Britain. But as I have proved above, it is by far the least important argument – it is critical that we all understand the: financial, political and political implications that could have a detrimental effect on the EU if we opt to leave. As I have reiterated, I cannot vote in the upcoming EU referendum, I should be able to… but that is beside the point. I am encouraging those who have not considered the alternative arguments to remaining in – to: look, seek and discover. Because as a unit we can achieve more and together, overcome the issues of today. That’s why I’ll be opting in. 

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This article was written by a past writer and has been archived