Three things you must consider

IN the poll booth on Thursday, you have three responsibilities. You have to do what is right for yourself, for your children and your country.

The arguments for and against EU membership have raged ever more shrill and outrageous.

It isn’t easy to know who to believe. It would also be folly to base such an important decision on whether you like or dislike the personalities who have taken centre stage in this often vitriolic campaign.

But this is a pivotal moment in history and you have a duty to have your say.

And when you do make this decision, which will affect your family, your friends and your neighbours, we know you will do it carefully. You will weigh up the good and bad. That is what you, and your mother and father did when they voted to remain in the EEC in 1975.

Admittedly, the choice isn’t easy, there are good and bad aspects to what the EU represents and delivers. And yes, the EU needs to change to become more democratic and transparent in the way it makes decisions and spends our money.

The Sunday Post, over its 102-year history, has always spoken up for what it thinks is right. And we are in a unique position to speak to the people of Scotland. We are the only national newspaper wholly owned and headquartered in Scotland. So this is what we think. The economic case for leaving the EU has not been made. The uncertainties are too many and the financial risks too great. It should be noted that a clear majority of the world’s monetary institutions have warned of negative financial implications if we leave.

The question of immigration is a difficult one. Yes, more work is needed to protect us from those who we do not want on our shores – extremists who target the innocent as they go about their ordinary lives.

However, workers should still have freedom of movement especially when we consider that many Scots have bettered themselves by starting new lives in new countries.

We are also, whether we like it or not, geographically a part of Europe and we have played a great part in the continent’s history. Scots fought and died for a free Europe.

We were European then, we are European now.

All these things must inform the decision because, on Friday, we will be a changed nation. We want what is best for you. We want Scotland to thrive. We believe the position is clear. Scotland would be better served by remaining in the EU.