In the interests of prosperity, security and the best for future generations I shall be voting to remain. As a member of the EU we have had 40 years of peace and 40 years of prosperity so why opt for an uncertain, idealistic future? We have benefitted from unfettered free trade with 500 million people in the largest trading block in the world. The EU is our biggest trading partner (44% of our goods and services) and jeopardising this arrangement would put an overwhelming majority of local businesses at risk including: The Ministry of Cake, employing 300 people and exporting cake Europe-wide, Pritec, high tech manufacturer of car sound proofing, W.H. Hendy exporting high pressure pumps; and vegetable packers, Ken Coles. To hamper businesses with EU tariffs and restrictions, resulting in a predicted annual reduction in trade nationally of £20 billion (Treasury Analysis), will result in job losses and a down turn in the economy and ultimately less money, not more, to fund our public services. We already trade globally and we will do more, but we have more clout as part of the EU trading block. For the food industry in particular (a key employer in the South West) an EU Brexit could be catastrophic: causing disruption to supply chains, extra tariffs, import controls, food legislation would have to be re-drafted (with 27 individual countries) and in the meantime food could be labelled unsafe and exports stalled. This sector is highly dependent on the eastern European labour force too since the UK workforce simply can’t (or doesn’t) supply this. We spend 1p in every £1 on Europe and we get most of this back with agriculture and rural areas benefiting hugely from support. Passionate as I am about these areas they will not take priority when competing for national funds. Less support will mean home produced food is more expensive as we adhere to our high welfare standards, and supermarkets will be attracted by lower priced, supported imports, which will have a deleterious impact on our farmers. Leave the EU and science and innovation, so crucial for our future, will suffer. We contribute 11% to the EU science budget but draw out 16% . Our global financial sector, built on EU internal market legislation could shrink and with it influence and jobs. On environmental grounds we are better off in. We share our air and water and the birds don’t stop at borders. We benefit from a mutual framework of EU legislation keeping our water and beaches clean and we can only tackle climate change together. We have a good EU deal already, no euro, opting out of ‘ever closer’ union, able to block unwanted EU laws, not having to bail out failing states plus new checks on migrants. Change is still needed but let’s be at the table fighting for it not outside in the cold. And let’s be humanitarian. This said, whatever the outcome I will remain the dedicated and hard- working MP for Taunton Deane.