I’m firmly ‘in’ when it comes to the EU referendum, as the EU helps us to avoid an environmental and social ‘race to the bottom’.

Let me explain: in general firms will naturally lobby their governments to lower environmental and working standards, as this will lower their costs and make them more competitive (especially compared to foreign firms). It’s the Government’s job to resist this lobbying, but with firms becoming larger and more powerful, this is becoming more and more difficult. “Our industry is going to disappear altogether if we can’t compete on a level playing field” is a hard argument for governments to ignore in our globalised world. The EU is the answer: it sets standards and provides a level playing field across the continent of Europe, and is large enough to be a major influence across the globe. I would like to see Britain not just sitting at the EU table, but taking a leading role in raising standards that will benefit our children and grandchildren.

A local example of EU rules driving up standards is air quality: due to EU rules Wiltshire Council must have an action plan for reducing air pollution to safe levels, including in Marlborough and Devizes. This will ultimately reduce the number of asthma sufferers and early deaths from respiratory-related diseases.

For readers who would like to get more information from people who really know how the EU works from the inside: please come and ask questions to two Members of the European Parliament for our area. They are Dr Molly Scott Cato MEP (campaigning for a ‘Greener In’) and Dr Julia Reid MEP (campaigning to ‘Leave’), and the event will be held at St Peter’s Church, Marlborough from 7pm to 9pm tomorrow (Friday). Seats can be reserved at www.MEPs-in-Marlborough.eventbrite.co.uk. The event is free, but donations will be collected for the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

EMMA DAWNAY, Chairman/co-ordinator Devizes Green Party, Wexcombe, Near Marlborough