Ben’s blog on the EU referendum

Come the 23rd June, it’s the nation’s opportunity to make one of the biggest decisions in the country’s history.

Do we stay in the European Union, or do we go it alone? An agonizing choice, as in reality, we simply do not know what is going to happen if we leave.

Looking back

It was a similar dilemma when we were looking at whether to join the EU. A huge experiment in mass regional integration, in which we had no prior experience. It proved a good move for the USA (their States operated as individual entities up until 1776), but they were united with a common language and customs. How was it to work for countries who were so vastly different?

There was speculation about borders opening, improved relationships, learning from each country’s best-practice, and untold trade opportunities, whilst those against argued that we would lose our governance and national identity.

In practice, those for and against, have both proved to be right!

For example, whilst trade outlets have increased, so has the legislation governing it. In short, the doors are open, but getting through them is harder.

In addition, much manufacturing has been out-sourced to cheaper countries. However, as a small business we are firm believers in ‘paddling your own canoe’ and the flexibility the nation would gain from governing more of its own policy will be beneficial. There is also the possible knock-on effect that could well re-ignite some of our manufacturing industry that has been outsourced to Europe.

Leaving the EU will have little to no effect directly upon Wolverhampton Handling, however it may affect business in the supply line up-stream, and as such could be more disruptive there.

In summation:

Ultimately, neither of the possible outcomes will be without some consequence and there will be pain, be it either short term or long term. Perhaps the most pertinent question to ask is ‘What is most palatable for the majority – not just the ‘concerned’ (read financially invested) voices that are getting louder and louder?’

I would say the one thing which would push me further over to the leave campaign would be the number of non UK citizens who feel the need to tell us what to do, especially as most of their rhetoric is negative issues for the UK rather than problems for themselves by our exit.