In discussion: Brexit

Sir,

I am a Baby Boomer born in the aftermath of the Second World War. Never have I been so fearful for the future as I am today. The post-war liberal consensus that brought us peace is under threat as never before.

The Marshall plan to bring economic recovery to Germany and a series of measures designed to bring about a structure for peace and security laid the framework of peace following the Second World War - measures we still enjoy today. The UN and the European community oversaw nation states co-operating and helping one another, rather than seeding divisions between themselves. The Geneva Convention to protect asylum seekers and the European Convention on Human Rights written by UK lawyers ensured that the atrocities of the Second World War never occurred again. This was a concept promoted by none other than Winston Churchill.

Since those days the world has changed a great deal. Eventually we threw in our lot with Europe and introduced our own Human Rights Act (HRA) to bring the Convention into our own legal framework. How sad it is that the HRA - the bedrock of ensuring that human beings are treated with respect and dignity in our society - is now under political threat.

Even more disturbing is that on 23 June the British people will vote on whether we should turn our back on the EU. We talk about this in very parochial terms, looking at the economic effect of leaving the EU (my own view is that our membership is positive in economic terms). However, this totally misses the point of why it is vital that we stay in.

The real argument for remaining in the EU is to ensure we continue to be part of and have an influence in a continent where peace and security flourish in uncertain times. I remember when we were worried about Spanish waiters coming to the UK. How glad we are that Spain has risen economically to near our level. This has been to our immense benefit and has led to greater security, not only for Spain but Europe as a whole. In 20 years' time we will look on Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria in the same way. Free trade and free movement of labour in Europe is of economic benefit, but even more it is a guarantee of peace, security, and understanding between diverse communities.

The only people outside the UK who will cheer loudly if we leave are President Putin, Isis, and European extremists, such as Jean-Marie Le Pen. They are an alliance of backward-looking nationalists, who wholly misunderstand the mechanisms of a modern, connected world. If we leave the EU, we risk chaos for future generations. British values of tolerance, fair play, and the rule of law played a huge part in shaping Europe. If we vote leave, then we will surely reap the consequences of instability and, God forbid, war in generations
to come.

Yours faithfully,

Andrew Holroyd

Andrew Holroyd CBE is managing partner at QualitySolicitors Jackson Canter @QSJacksonCanter www.jacksoncanter.co.uk