Better to stay in EU
THE report that Dr Julia Reid MEP has criticised (Adver, January 26) drew its conclusions from a 2013 Review of Local Enterprise Partnership area economies. 
Her certainty in dismissing the fact that the UK leaving the EU would not have an impact on local jobs is admirable but does not tally with what many people with responsibility for businesses across the country feel.
Just one per cent of executive directors and chairmen from some of the UK’s 500 biggest companies wanted to leave the EU, in a survey by Ipsos-Mori in 2015. 
And 45 per cent wanted to see reforms but remain in the EU.
Small businesses also support EU membership, with the Federation of Small Businesses arguing in 2014 that the EU is good for business.
The Confederation of British Industry said in 2013 "the single market is fundamental to our future’ and ‘while there are drawbacks the benefits significantly outweigh the costs".
A total of 61 per cent of businesses polled by the British Chambers of Commerce felt that leaving the EU would have a bad impact on their future.
And 85 per cent of British manufacturers want us to remain in the EU, according to a 2013 survey by the British manufacturers association EEF.
However, focusing the debate narrowly on to business interests within the region fails to recognise many of the other benefits that being part of the EU can bring; a cap on bankers’ bonuses, standing up for workers’ rights, tackling climate change, pollution and environmental damage, standards for health products and services to name but a few.
We are better off working with our neighbours to tackle the problems we face than going it alone.
MOLLY SCOT CATO MEP
Green Party, South West England and Gibraltar