Staying in Europe by far our best option

THERESA May’s agreement is not good. But it is infinitely better than no deal. However, Ms May’s deal is infinitely worse than the current deal the UK has with the EU.

We have full membership of a union of independent European nations. We have 78 trade agreements in place that give our industries access to almost 200 global markets.

We are able to influence and change laws, policies and practices. Indeed, we have written and established many of them. We have a host of opt-out clauses that specifically protect our national interests.

We have our own currency. We have our border controls in other EU countries that enable us to stop illegal, dangerous, or criminal persons before they travel to the UK.

We are members of a Common Fisheries Policy that has resulted in rebuilding cod stocks in the North Sea and has saved many species from extinction. We have access to a local European workforce, who share our culture and most of whom have learnt our language.

If, in 2016, the referendum had offered us three deals — (1) no deal, through which we will lose all of the above, (2) Mrs May’s deal, through which we will lose most of the above, or (3) the current membership deal, through which we keep all of the above — what choice would we have made then?

MARTIN DEIGHTON By email