Remain campaigners decry ‘Little Englanders’ – but they are the ones whose outlook is narrow

SIR – One thing has become clear during the European Union referendum campaign: those who want to leave are not narrow-minded “Little Englanders”, as they have been so nastily portrayed by the pro-EU crowd over recent years.

On the subject of trade, for example, it is the Remain campaign whose outlook appears narrow, focusing on the EU alone.

The Brexit campaign, meanwhile, is looking both to the EU and beyond – to the Commonwealth and, indeed, the entire world. June Warner Kirk Deighton, North Yorkshire SIR – In the run-up to the 1994 referendum on Norway joining the EU, pro-EU economists wrongly stated that not joining the EU would cause mass unemployment.

These economists were also wrong when they said that Britain should stay in the European Exchange Rate Mechanism; and they were wrong again when they said Britain should join the euro. Had we listened to their advice, our country would have suffered greatly. Mark Richards Brighton, East Sussex SIR – Britain is soon to vote on its continued membership of the EU. For the sake of our economic security, we urge people to vote Remain.

Over the past six years we have experienced a period of unprecedented economic growth. This has helped us to create 2.4 million jobs, made Britain an excellent place in which to do business and helped our communities to flourish. None of this would have been possible without our membership of the European single market. The Leave campaign has made clear that it will leave the single market and put all of this at risk.

A vote to leave the EU will put jobs in danger. Prices will rise, mortgages will be at risk and funding for local schools and hospitals will fall. This is a risk that we, as Conservative councillors, are not willing to take with our economy and the health of our local communities. Cllr Nicholas Rushton Leicestershire County Council Cllr Robert Davis Westminster City Council Cllr Graham Butland Braintree District Council Cllr Joan Kirkbride Northamptonshire County Council and 162 others; see telegraph.co.uk SIR – Rev Jamie Taylor (Letters, June 5) believes that Angela Merkel is trying to frighten us into staying in the EU.

However, those arguing to remain or leave are both using fear, as there is nothing about which they can be sure. Geoff Eley Dunmow, Essex SIR – During the television debate between David Cameron and Nigel Farage on Tuesday, one member of the audience referred to a report which stated that 55 per cent of UK legislation emanates from the EU.

Later in the programme, Mr Cameron said that no further powers to legislate could be given to Brussels without another referendum in the UK. He ignored the fact that the EU would continue to determine our laws to the same extent it does now. Sir Neville Trotter Newcastle upon Tyne SIR – The Vote Leave campaign talks about sovereignty. But any discussion of this subject must address what the EU doesn’t do, as well as what it does.

The vast majority of government revenue is spent nationally, and the EU has little or no say over spending on health, education, defence or welfare – the biggest items for any exchequer. The power to police us and declare war on our behalf lies with Parliament. Our taxation and benefit levels are set domestically – as are school curricula.

The EU is not a super-state but a complementary tool to help us trade in the world’s biggest single market, which we played a key role in creating. Dominic Brett London NW3