REGARDING Mr Saunders’s letter (January 2): perhaps the following would be a reasonable definition of EU “mess” – bankruptcy, bail-outs, street riots, massive youth unemployment, raiding private citizen’s bank accounts, inner city racial tensions.

All of these are happening, and have happened, in Eurozone countries, publically acknowledged by politicians in those countries. While concentrating on economics and trade, perhaps Mr Saunders would like to reflect on the very successful, multi-national German company, BMW.

Oxford Mail:

A former advert outside the BMW Mini plant in Cowley, Oxford

They have developed manufacturing sites in 14 countries over four continents. Why? Because major expansion of BMW’s business is more likely to take place outside the Eurozone and, in particular, major developing countries in Asia, China and India, and the Americas, Brazil and the USA.

We have been in the EU since 1974 and, as Mr Saunders says, have seen manufacturing jobs decline dramatically. So much for the misplaced argument about staying in the EU to save manufacturing jobs.

I fully believe in and support a union of free trading nations, but I find it irrational and offensive to suggest that this country must have an all-or- nothing relationship with the EU, divisively using the catchphrase “can't pick and choose”.

Refusing to accept, challenge, debate or seek to change issues about which the majority of the people in this country are concerned is tantamount to dictatorship from Brussels.

There is a very big and fast developing world outside the EU.

To suggest that Europe is the answer to everything is at best naïve and, at worst, stupid.

IAN CUMMINGS

Gibson Close

Abingdon