WITHIN the next week I should have received and returned my postal vote for the EU referendum.

I shall be casting it for us to remain members of the EU.

Having voted the same way in the previous referendum, I am convinced that membership has benefitted both our own country and others in the union.

We have moved from being described as the ‘sick man of Europe’ to now having its strongest economy.

During the bad times many Britons were only too pleased to accept the opportunity to work elsewhere in the EU (remember Auf Wiedersehen Pet?).

It has also been great to see so many young people study and work in other countries and pensioners benefitting from retirement in warmer climates with a lower cost of living than we have here.

Most importantly, I am convinced that working together and becoming financially interdependent has overcome our history of resorting to war to settle our differences.

Current difficulties, such as the refugee crisis and inequality amongst peoples, can only be dealt with effectively if we continue to work together.

It may take longer that way but solutions will be more effective and sustainable.

I would urge others to join me in looking for the UK to lead, rather than leave. Of course, as with all institutions, there is room for improvement in the way the EU works but we will not be able to improve it from the outside.

BRIAN CLEMENTS

Palmerston Road, Poole

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