THE European Union (and Common Market before it) has brought peace, prosperity and democracy to our continent. Talk of a referendum to leave the Union is simply potty.

The EU is Britain’s biggest trading partner. It has given Britons much improved employment rights and made travel abroad much easier.

In 1975 I voted against the Common Market. Many of us objected to the lack of democracy, exclusion of much of Europe and too much spending on farmers.

The EU Parliament is much stronger; as many as 27 nations belong and subsidies to farmers are much less.

Even with the Euro crisis, Britain will do much better inside the European Union than out. How else can we cope with the challenges from economies like the United States and China?

Instead of shouting from the sidelines, Britain should fully embrace the EU and even the Euro in due course. Oxford as an international city has more to gain than most from a strong, outward-looking and diverse EU.

JOHN TANNER (Labour Cllr) Board Member for a Cleaner, Greener Oxford City Councillor for Littlemore & County Councillor for Isis