25/06/2016
Love Bude
We've just received this positive message from Clive Woodward, CEO of Bude's largest employer and long-established Anglo-European business, Bott Ltd.
'I know this morning that many young people are very concerned about the referendum outcome. It represents a huge change for our country.
Democracy has however been served and we have to go forward united as a nation and with positivity. I voted to Remain taking the route of 'least uncertainty'. However, remaining would have been no guarantee of a perfect future. The EU is a flawed construct with many issues. The EUR is proving to have been a great irreversible error with huge unemployment and poverty in southern countries being the result.
Building growth and prosperity in equal measure across all member nations has proved to be a red herring.
Europe has to reform and when Jean-Claude Juncker said on June 22nd that even if the UK remained there would be no reform, the writing was clearly on the wall. Dark clouds hang over the whole concept and pressures are building within.
Today the trade deficit with the EU is approaching £100Bn, 3x bigger than it was at the time of the banking crisis. Our exports to Europe have shrunk by 0.7% p.a. since 2008, while imports have grown by an average of 2.5% p.a.
I still feel European, but now will have to be one in the form of a good neighbour rather than a family member. Trade will not end and we can still work together to secure a brighter future by innovating, creating producing and selling more to others.
To all young people I say this. Be confident, use your abilities and energy to build a strong country that can work with and support Europe, because be in no doubt Europe's citizens will need our partnership and friendship in the coming years as much as we need theirs. Don't waste time berating those who didn't vote like you. Use it to do great things. Be 'Great Britains' and be proud of what we can build together.'
