"A vote to 'Remain' is a vote for an outward-looking, confident Britain"
by David Lidington / June 22, 2016 / Leave a comment
The Union Jack is displayed alongside the European flag outside Europe House, the European Parliament’s British offices, in London, 22nd June, 2016 ©Matt Dunham/AP/Press Association Images
Read more: Brexiting yourself in the foot
The United Kingdom is a European country with global interests and influence. Tomorrow’s vote on our membership of the EU is not a choice between Europe and the rest of the world. We need both. Being in the EU has made our country better off and has strengthened our security. Leaving would put that at risk.
Inside the EU, British companies can treat 500 million people in 28 countries—the biggest and richest trading bloc in the world—as their home market. Nearly half our aerospace exports, more than 40 per cent of car exports, and a third of financial services exports go to Europe. Europe includes seven of our ten biggest export markets for food and drink.
Big and small firms alike benefit. Just under a quarter of small and medium-sized enterprises either export directly to the EU or are in a European supply chain. Trade is tariff-free, with just one set of product standards, inspections and paperwork instead of 28.
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