Conservative MPs focus on the risks to economic success of leaving the European Union

SIR – We write as founding supporters of Conservatives for Reform in Europe, which gives a voice to Conservatives who want the Prime Minister’s renegotiation to succeed, and, if it does, believe it would be in Britain’s national interest to remain in a reformed EU.

We take a hard-headed view of EU membership. We see the advantages of a market without tariff barriers, but have deep concerns about the loss of sovereignty, the drive towards a European super-state, over-regulation, and levels of immigration. We are reassured that the Prime Minister’s proposed reforms would address these concerns.

A strong Britain in a reformed EU would have the best of both worlds: outside the euro, and protected from deeper integration, but able to access the single market; in the world’s greatest trading bloc of 500 million people, but still outside the Schengen area and able to maintain our borders. We would need to be very sure about the alternative before throwing such an advantageous position away.

We are proud of the achievements of this Conservative Government in turning the economy round, putting Britain at the top of the world growth league and delivering record job creation. But in an unstable world, the recovery remains fragile and there is still work to do.

It is time for Conservatives to weigh up the benefits as well as the costs of EU membership carefully, and focus on the real risks which leaving the EU could have for our economic success. Nick Herbert MP Sir Eric Pickles MP Caroline Spelman MP Guto Bebb MP Sir Simon Burns MP James Cartlidge MP Damian Collins MP Jo Churchill MP Sir Edward Garnier MP Mark Garnier MP Dominic Grieve MP Simon Hart MP Stephen Hammond MP Sir Oliver Heald MP Kevin Hollinrake MP Nigel Huddleston MP Jeremy Lefroy MP Bob Neill MP Mark Prisk MP Victoria Prentis MP Jeremy Quin MP Gary Streeter MP SIR – As a veteran of the Maastricht Treaty rebellion, permit me to reinforce Allister Heath’s plea (Comment, January 21) by saying to the “Eurosceptic Big Beasts”, some of whom are my former parliamentary colleagues, that David Cameron knows who you are and, should he win the referendum, will have no compunction in kicking you out of his Government, as John Major did with junior ministers he suspected of disloyalty once the Maastricht Treaty was safely on the statute book.

In short, you might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.

Christopher Gill MP for Ludlow 1987-2001 Bridgnorth, Shropshire SIR – Hurrah for Allister Heath’s article! The EU’s answer to every crisis that hits it is ever closer union. A vote for Remain is ultimately a vote for closer union.

Rona Knight

Aston Rowant, Oxfordshire SIR – David Cameron asks business leaders to back “Britain in Europe”. However, they will only back what suits them. Goldman Sachs is only voicing its own interests, not those of the nation.

Mr Cameron will get no worthwhile concessions from Brussels while he adopts his present attitude of “We are better off remaining in”. It was therefore welcome to read the excellent article by Allister Heath.

We ordinary voters need to make up our own minds and not be swayed by people with vested interests.

I have made up my mind: I am not going to vote for David Cameron ever again.

Nigel Foden

Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire