Why we need the European Union more than it needs us

Here are the really important questions which need to be answered before deciding how to vote in the British referendum about membership of the European Union on 23rd June.

Compared to other nations of similar wealth in the EU, does Britain have

- a better education system?
- higher levels of literacy and numeracy?
- a better general standard of health?
- a better standard of food and diet?
- higher productivity?
- a more equitable distribution of its wealth?
- a better urban environment?
- better quality housing?
- a better transport system?
- better quality roads?
- more independently run shops and restaurants?
- fewer corporate chain stores?
- higher standards of public behaviour?
- less alcohol-fuelled night-time aggression?
- a better football team?

The answer to all of these questions about vital indicators of a nation's health is "no". With regard to all of them, comparable European nations are ahead of us, often significantly so.

Yet the European Union has no control over any of them.

Things have slipped behind on our governments' - and our - watch. They are our doing. And if this is what we have achieved through exercising our sovereign powers with no European interference, having more of them might not be such a good idea after all.

I am a patriot yet I've never been afraid to say that we have a huge amount to learn from our neighbours about how to live, and to live well, and it has never been more important than now. In short, we need Europe more than Europe needs us.

Little Englanders - those small-minded, queasy, mincing dwarves of whom this great country has always spawned too many and who are to a great extent culpable in the failings above - will waste no words or expense to make Great Britain a lesser place. We will only have ourselves to blame if they win the referendum.

So, on balance, I think I'll vote to stay in the European Union.