JOINING the Common Market and later the European Union was like marriage.

It has its advantages and disadvantages, you lose some of your freedom, which we resent. It is like marriage or a balance sheet with plus and minus columns – and on this occasion if we are honest and not everyone is for dubious reasons, the plus outweigh the minus.

Again like marriage, life looks so much better outside, but many that have taken the plunge soon realise that it is not so glamorous, but there is no going back.

If you drive around the country you will notice in every town and village are war memorials commemorating the First and Second World Wars and you must ask yourself why?

They are there as a result of two world wars that were caused by Germany’s ambition to rule Europe and maybe the world. Who took the initiative to stop Germany?

Great Britain.

Many lives were lost in vain by both sides and other nations that supported us with no real winners. Do you want this to happen again?

In 1945 our leaders that survived looked at the situation and wondered what could be done to stop this happening again and hence the birth of the Common Market.

Since then it has moved to be known as the European Union and includes 28 nations with another two wishing to join and as a result we have had 70 years of peace in Europe.

Ever since we joined there has been considerable friction in Parliament and in order to pacify the rebels, David Cameron promised that he would negotiate amendments to our EU membership and then call a referendum.

This he has done to the best of his ability and now it looks like he will be damned if the country votes yes and he will be damned if they say no – a no-win situation.

If we leave the EU on June 23 we will solve some of our problems only to create others in the UK and Europe and I suggest that we will be turning the clock back.

Please note we are the mother of the world and respected and consulted by even America a large and democratically run nation. If we leave the European Community we will soon see the other European countries fall out, with Germany this time emerging as the leader without firing a single shot.

Several people have emerged from the referendum campaign with questionable ambitions and notably Boris Johnson, who I am convinced does not at heart wish to leave the EU, but sees it as a first class ticket to No 10.

However I can now advise him that it will never happen and in addition I do not think that he is Prime Minister material.

In the interest of Britain, Europe, the next generation and indeed the world I urge the voters to use their vote on the June 23 and vote no.

SIR ERIC HOWELLS CBE

Llanddewi Velfrey

Narberth