Weakened Europe will do us no good

Dear Sir,

I enjoyed reading Andrew Pear's Open Debate article in last week's Chronicle on the eu referendum and I apologise for sending so many letters on the subject.

While I can understand where he is coming from, his is essentially a view of the effect of leaving on us.

What he does not appreciate is the damaging effect on the European project.

He explains eloquently the problems of the eu and then in effect decides to leave a sinking ship.

This might be okay in the short term though a weakened Europe will do us no good and just perhaps we can help to make it seaworthy again if we remain.

In the long term however our influence in the world will decrease and with it our values of tolerance, fairness, liberty and the rule of law, that the continent and the world need so desperately.

Your sincerely,

Dr Peter Hirst

Middlewich