Let's stay in the EU

Dear Sir,

While agreeing with some of what Chris Watkin in his letter in last week's Guardian says, his fundamental premise that we would be better out of the EU is wrong.

He fails to understand the changes that have occurred over recent decades that result in us needing the EU as much as it needs us.

One of his arguments is that we lose freedom by remaining a member of the EU.

In as much as countries such as Switzerland, Norway and Andorra remain free, they also lose influence in a rapidly changing world.

I doubt whether being in the EU restricts our trade with the rest of the world significantly and would suggest it is roughly neutral in this regard.

It is the advantages of being able to trade with the other members that gives us an advantage compared to the above countries.

Then there are the undoubted benefits of helping to foster a fairer, more sustainable and peaceful world that derive from us being a member of a larger organisation with more influence on the world stage.

Remaining an active member of the EU with our long and proud history of internationalism and promoting fair and free trade will help to prevent it become more inward looking with the adverse effect this would have on the many international challenges we as a species face.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Peter Hirst

Rushton Drive

Middlewich