Why it's worth staying together
I think that it is very important for the UK to stay in the EU in order to keep our connections with the rest of Europe and the world. A key argument is to protect our trade with other countries in Europe. Being part of the EU allows us to trade and transport goods to and from other countries without paying tax. If we were denied this right it would affect the UK and other countries hugely. Many everyday products we buy could be extortionate and some may not even be available in our country. The same would apply for goods made in England and sold in Europe. Half of all UK exports are sold to the EU; if we lose half of our customers it would affect our economy massively.
Being in the EU also means that we must accept certain rules on emissions and pollution. Folllowing these rules has allowed us to keep a clean, healthy and welcoming environment. Leaving the EU could lead to a rise in pollution, which can not only cause health hazards but also a bad reputation internationally.
Other laws set by the EU mean that discrimination is illegal in the UK. This provides a happy, peaceful environment and promotes diversity and equality for all genders, race and age. Do you want to live in a racist, sexist community? Diversity is what we as a nation stand for and one of our most proud and distinctive factors.
As 28 united democracies, we make the world’s biggest market and one of the biggest international organisations. Like a single droplet compared to an ocean, we are more powerful together and being a part of the EU and many other organisations is what makes our nation such a great one and what helps us to make the world a better place.
Max Hatfield, Year 10
Being in the EU also means that we must accept certain rules on emissions and pollution. Folllowing these rules has allowed us to keep a clean, healthy and welcoming environment. Leaving the EU could lead to a rise in pollution, which can not only cause health hazards but also a bad reputation internationally.
Other laws set by the EU mean that discrimination is illegal in the UK. This provides a happy, peaceful environment and promotes diversity and equality for all genders, race and age. Do you want to live in a racist, sexist community? Diversity is what we as a nation stand for and one of our most proud and distinctive factors.
As 28 united democracies, we make the world’s biggest market and one of the biggest international organisations. Like a single droplet compared to an ocean, we are more powerful together and being a part of the EU and many other organisations is what makes our nation such a great one and what helps us to make the world a better place.
Max Hatfield, Year 10
We're stronger as a team
I, along with the Government, as well as most of the country, am set on one thing this June: staying in the European Union. Although it may not seem to have a major direct impact on your life today, I guarantee that it will have an impact on your future, your children’s future, and possibly even your grandchildren’s future.
Are there actually any benefits to leaving? Thought not. Seriously, there are no major benefits. Obviously there’s a headline saving in terms of what we pay in – but we get so much more out. If we didn’t contribute to the EU budget, we wouldn’t have that money to spend as we liked – we would still have to fund many of the things the EU pays for now, but completely on our own. Staying in makes sense: the UK has secured a special status in a reformed EU; we will not join the Euro; we will have powers to veto certain decisions. We will also keep our own border controls, to ensure that our country doesn’t get too over populated.
The EU is by far the UK’s biggest trading partner. EU countries buy 44 per cent of everything we sell abroad, from cars to insurance. Remaining inside the EU guarantees our full access to its single market, by contrast, leaving guarantees uncertainty and risk.
Being inside the EU also makes it more attractive for companies to invest in the UK, meaning more jobs. Those in favour of leaving the EU say ‘if we stay in, immigrants will steal our jobs’. There are multiple things wrong with this statement. Firstly, it’s ignoring the fact that many of our own citizens are currently working and living abroad in other EU countries, so freedom to work in the EU cuts both ways. Secondly, it’s discriminating aginst immigrants by blaming our financial problems on them (which can be classed as racism) and thirdly, what will we have won anyway, if we try to save jobs, only to find there are none available, because we have left the EU.
We are all familiar with that feeling, that cold feeling of isolation, as though no one wants to help you. If we, as a country, choose to leave the EU, this is the reality we will be facing as a country. We will have shut the door on a club that supports and protects us. This can be prevented. Voting to remain is the only plausible solution.
The EU has helped to maintain peace and stability for decades. We are stronger together.
James Higgins, Year 10
Are there actually any benefits to leaving? Thought not. Seriously, there are no major benefits. Obviously there’s a headline saving in terms of what we pay in – but we get so much more out. If we didn’t contribute to the EU budget, we wouldn’t have that money to spend as we liked – we would still have to fund many of the things the EU pays for now, but completely on our own. Staying in makes sense: the UK has secured a special status in a reformed EU; we will not join the Euro; we will have powers to veto certain decisions. We will also keep our own border controls, to ensure that our country doesn’t get too over populated.
The EU is by far the UK’s biggest trading partner. EU countries buy 44 per cent of everything we sell abroad, from cars to insurance. Remaining inside the EU guarantees our full access to its single market, by contrast, leaving guarantees uncertainty and risk.
Being inside the EU also makes it more attractive for companies to invest in the UK, meaning more jobs. Those in favour of leaving the EU say ‘if we stay in, immigrants will steal our jobs’. There are multiple things wrong with this statement. Firstly, it’s ignoring the fact that many of our own citizens are currently working and living abroad in other EU countries, so freedom to work in the EU cuts both ways. Secondly, it’s discriminating aginst immigrants by blaming our financial problems on them (which can be classed as racism) and thirdly, what will we have won anyway, if we try to save jobs, only to find there are none available, because we have left the EU.
We are all familiar with that feeling, that cold feeling of isolation, as though no one wants to help you. If we, as a country, choose to leave the EU, this is the reality we will be facing as a country. We will have shut the door on a club that supports and protects us. This can be prevented. Voting to remain is the only plausible solution.
The EU has helped to maintain peace and stability for decades. We are stronger together.
James Higgins, Year 10