As the debate over how much the UK should contribute to the EU continues to rage on, many are now asking the question “Can the UK prosper outside of Europe?”. A very tricky question in deed!

Whether you love it or loath it, the European Union (EU) is very much a closed shop which the UK needs to be part of in some shape or form. It is fast becoming very much like the US, with large taxes placed on imports as the EU fights to open new and lucrative export markets. In many ways the EU is actually developing like an earlier version of the USA, a time when the Americans doubled tariffs on imported steel and protected many of their industries from overseas competition.

The UK very much needs to be part of the EU but we also need to see a greater level of accountability from those holding office in Brussels. It seems that each and every day we see more and more barmy rules leaking out of the EU Parliament, although the press seem to have a big part to play in this. Surely all of the new rules can’t be as barmy as the ruling on straight bananas!

The UK has for many years punched above its weight on the worldwide stage and continues to do so to this date, but we need to be inside the EU to give our arguments a chance of reaching fruition. Being outside of Europe, or on the fringes, could well have dire consequences for UK businesses as they would very much be trading at a disadvantage to their EU counterparts.

The EU is a growing force in world markets, and while we seem to be creeping towards the dreaded European State, there seems very little we can do on the outside to change anything. We need to be inside the tent!