The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Mr Hayter, of UKIP, advises young people who are thinking of voting “in” in the EU referendum: “It’s your future that’s at stake and taking the advice of self-serving elites who have lined their pockets at the public’s expense is a dangerous game.”
Undoubtedly a true statement except that the bit about “self-serving elites” may be applied to some on both sides of the debate.
Some of us simply feel on the balance of facts – yes, facts – that our country would be better off continuing to be a member of Europe. I am very keen on making decisions based on facts.
He says: “Youth unemployment in most EU countries is between 30-50 per cent”. I would like to know where he gets his figures from.
I looked them up and according to the Statistics Portal only six of the 28 EU members had a youth unemployment figure of 30 per cent and above. Most EU countries’ youth unemployment stands at between 6.9 per cent and 25.1 per cent. Britain’s is 13.4 per cent.
I suspect that Mr Hayter’s real concern is about Eastern Europeans who have come to live AND work in our area.
So it’s worth noting that youth unemployment in Poland is 20 per cent, Romania 20.9 per cent, Latvia 18.2 per cent and Hungary 14.4 per cent. These are facts.
I also take exception to the statement that “this country is on the skids.” There are many things wrong with our country but despite all our recent financial trouble we are still the fifth richest economy in Europe.
I believe that’s because of our EU membership, partnerships and trade. Yes, TRADE – the lifeblood of a great nation.
I advise anybody to stand by the Pinchbeck roundabout of the A16 and count the number of lorries with EU plates coming in and out carrying our goods and produce. Or go down to any port serving the continent and see the enormous volume of lorries travelling to and from Europe. Or perhaps look in the fields and factories of our area and see the contribution being made by EU citizens working here and then spending their income in our shops and businesses or in renting local properties.
I believe that local immigrants contribute enormously to our area and it’s wealth.
What a nasty word “immigrant” has become. Why don’t we say “expats” just like we do for Britons living abroad?
Goodness knows the EU is far from perfect but let’s strive to improve it from a position of strength on the inside.
What will happen to this country if we leave the EU? Nobody knows.
I do not support the current government or any political party – all recent governments have done good things and bad things and we can vote them out if we don’t like them – that’s democracy.
Incidentally, despite popular myth, the same can be said of the EU. Our MEPs are voted in by us.
So, young people, please make a decision based on facts because arguments without a basis in fact are, at best hearsay and at worst, downright prejudice.
Find as many facts as you can from both sides of the debate and make your informed decision.
It will be your country. Your decision. Your future.
Joe Reavey
Pinchbeck
I struggle to understand the point behind your comment regarding the lorries bearing EU plates! Are you somehow under the impression that those lorries are only taking UK produce to the EU and come back empty??? It might help you if you have a trip to any supermarket and see where much of the fresh produce for sale comes from outside the UK. Yes, we export local produce to the EU BUT the rest of the EU EXPORTS vast amounts of goods to the UK.
BTW you may be surprised to know that not all the income earned by migrant workers is always spent locally, it is common practice to send some back to their country of origin to purchase goods there. Nothing wrong with that but as you say the facts are important.