EU alive and well

The claim by many “Brexiteers” during the EU referendum campaign that UK membership of the EU was akin to being “shackled to a corpse” has, like many of the other claims, proven to be simply untrue.

Latest economic growth figures indicate that the EU grew by 2.5 per cent in 2017, with economies of Eastern European countries such as Bulgaria and Slovakia doing particularly well.

The UK economy grew by 1.8 per cent overall in 2017, the slowest rate of increase since 2012 and the first time in seven years that the Eurozone’s economy grew quicker than the UK’S last year. The figures show the extent to which the UK is now trailing its European counterparts.

Growth across the European Union is at levels not seen since 2007. And the continent’s powerhouse countries – Germany and France – are seeing growth at levels not experienced since the financial crisis bounce-back of 2010.

In comparison, the data for the UK is no great surprise and comes in line with forecasts, but it does act as confirmation of the divergent economic fortunes of Britain and our neighbours across the Channel.

As the uncertainty surrounding Brexit impacts on both consumption and investment, economic growth is being slowed down.

It should also be noted that we are still in the single market and the customs union, which gives us tariff-free access to the EU.

That relationship will change when we leave.

For those arguing that EU membership is like seeing the UK shackled to a corpse, these latest figures highlight that it is in fact the reverse that is the case.

ALEX ORR Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh