Too many positives achieved
With the referendum on membership of the European Union taking place on Thursday, Shotts MP Neil Gray has voiced his support for the Remain Campaign.
Mr Gray feels that by focusing on the positives rather than the negatives of EU membership is the best way to make the decision and that the negative tone of the debate is akin to the Scottish Referendum’s Project Fear campaign and does nothing to inspire or motivate the electorate.
The MP would rather people were aware of good that EU membership and finance brings.
The current upgrade to the M8, M73 and M74 network is being partially funded by a £175million contribution from the European Investment Bank.
Basic things like not being discriminated against on the grounds of age, gender or race, 20 days paid holiday each year and the right to maternity, paternity and parental leave are all guaranteed by being in the EU.
The MP said: “Many people do not know of the benefits of being in the EU as the campaigns at the moment are only focusing on the negative issues. There are so many plus points that need to be publicised.
“The motorway upgrade, although an annoyance at the moment, will bring so many benefits to not only Airdrie and Shotts but Scotland as a whole and there are bound to be other projects that, if we leave the EU, may not see the light of day due to lack of funding.
“The single market allows our businesses access to more than 500 million potential customers.
“The EU protects our goods like Scotch whisky, Stornoway Black Pudding and Forfar Bridies meaning that they cannot be produced anywhere else under those names.
“The employment rights mean so much to every working person in the UK. To apply for a position and know that it will be decided on ability and not race, religion, sex or age is exactly how the job market should work. Parents’ rights and holiday entitlement are other things that being in the EU protects and may not be replicated or supported by a Tory UK Government.
“We need to encourage people to vote to make sure that we keep all the things that EU membership is good for and these far outweigh any negative issues.
“The Scottish Referendum saw a huge turnout of voters and this decision is just as important in its own way, we have to get that message across.”