On June 23 voters in the United Kingdom will have to decide whether or not we leave or remain in the ‘reformed’ European Union.

It is a big decision; “one that will affect you and your family for decades to come” so proclaims the booklet produced by the government. 

After reading it I am none the wiser as to what ‘reforms’ the government has agreed with the present administration of the European Union. We are told the UK has secured a ‘special status’ – what does this mean?

Recently, US President Obama said that our special relationship with America would be jeopardised should Britain vote to leave the EU and that if we wished to trade with the US we would have to join the back of the queue behind the rest of the world. Could this attitude be considered blackmail?

There does not appear to be any rock solid agreement to any of the changes the UK requires. The booklet does not state what these reforms are. 

How can the electorate decide if the following questions are not answered?

We will not join the Euro, but the government does not say why we should stay out.

We will keep our own border controls but it does not explain how we can go against the EU laws which override the laws of this country. Daily we see criminals who have been sentenced to deportation having this judgement overturned by the European Court of Human Rights.

Tough new restrictions on access to the welfare system for new EU migrants. This again will be difficult to administer and will be an economic charter for enterprising lawyers.

As for no further European political integration, the booklet does not state which countries they expect will want to join or have made application to the EU.

Commitment to reduce EU red tape. It does not state the items of ‘red tape’ that require serious amendments and who will be responsible. On this last statement, why does the European Parliament meet in Brussels for half the year and the other half in Strasbourg? Surely this adds a considerably cost to the EU budget.

To make an informed decision we need to get answers, not ‘wishy washy’ aspirations that may never be fulfilled.

VIM RODRIGO

Rivermead Road, Oxford