More right than wrong with EU

If there is one thing that businesses like above all else it is certainty.

A stable economic environmentgives the confidence necessary to invest, to take on staff and to develop new opportunities.

For consumers, too, economic stability gives the confidencetospendandinvest. In uncertain times weareall less willing to take on a new mortgage, for example, or to spend on non-essential items the money that might be needed for a ‘rainy day’.

Uncertainty is therefore a major brake on the economy, reducing expenditure, investment and employment.

Those who advocate leaving the EU offer only uncertainty. They hope that the rest of the EU and the rest of the world will sign up to new trade deals with a ‘more independent’ UK. Yet they cannot be sure of that. The only certainty they offer is that, if they win the vote, the future on 24 June will be uncertain.

Uncertainty means job opportunities lost, businesses not started, homes not built. Carried forward (as it will be if we vote to leave the EU) uncertainty also risks becoming higher inflation, higher mortgage rates, higher unemployment- andlowerwagegrowth for those still in work.

On balance, there is much more ‘ right’ with the EU than there is ‘wrong’ with it. And many of the things that are wrong can be fixed if the UK remains a member and works with other countries to achieve reform. If we vote to leave the EU we really will be ‘jumping from the frying pan into the fire’ – with unpredictable consequences. On23JuneIshalltherefore be voting to remain in the EU. Karl Hick Chief executive Larkfleet Group of Companies ough Telegraph is devoting plentyofcolumnspacetoboth sides of the EU debate.

The Peterborough Brexit team have been doing an excellent job publicity wise over the last couple of weeks, with articles or letters from Stewart Jackson plus Andy Monk and Jay Beecher of UKIP appearing in the paper.

Sadly much of it has made for depressing reading due to somedivisive, negative, potentially inflammatoryandheartless rhetoric regarding issues that affect our cosmopolitan and multicultural city.

A tactic that Mr Jackson and UKIP spokesmen are quick to use is to call those of us who think differently to them unpatriotic. Politicians shouldbesufficientlymature, andskilled in the powerof debate to deal with those who disagree with them without resorting to insults and name calling.

We all know that the in campaign haven’t been entirely honest either, but I don’t believe that they have resorted to the gutter politics employed by some, and I emphasise some (not all) of the out campaign.

I would appeal to Mr JacksonandthelocalUKIPspokesmantorememberthatthisisa referendumratherthanawar, andtoactmoreresponsiblyin the finalpart of the campaign. I also ask them to show more respect for those whomaynot share the same views, but are as passionate about their beliefs as Mr Jackson and UKIP are about theirs. Barry Warne Peterborough