BREXIT: Least well off will suffer most

I have to take exception to the letter from Ms Duckworth regarding Brexit, (Morpeth Herald, July 6).

Surely the whole point of democracies is that everyone has the right to express an opinion in a peaceful manner.

If there is something anyone disagrees with, then surely we have the right to campaign for what we believe to be right, particularly when the vote was so close.

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Ms Duckworth also seems to not appreciate some key points about the EU.

The UK Government spend is close to £780billion per annum. Our net contributions to the EU are £8.1billion, or about one per cent of UK Government spend.

I’m afraid that one per cent is not going to rebuild the health service or provide a well funded education system.

Even the £350million a week amounts to just over two per cent.

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The money we do give to the EU is largely used to good effect.

Anyone who has travelled in Europe over the last 30 years will be aware how countries such as Ireland, Spain and Portugal have changed, with much of that stimulated by EU money.

This improvement has grown their economies and increased their trade with ourselves, and therefore ultimately been for our benefit.

I personally see Europe as our closest neighbour, and I believe in helping my neighbours.

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Ms Duckworth is also wrong to say that the EU stops us from trading with countries outside the EU.

In reality, more than 50 per cent of UK exports go to non-EU countries. For several of these countries, the EU does have trade agreements in place, and for those that do not, we free trade under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.

My real problem with Brexit is that we are going to be poorer and we will not get the control many seek.

It will only take a few banks and manufacturers to move operations to Europe to wipe out any supposed saving from EU funding.

And as so often happens, it will be the least well off in society who suffer the most.

Peter Allan

Kings Avenue

Morpeth