Sometimes the Right is just that; Brexit or Remain

The Brexit debate has given me a new focus on what’s important for Britain, and I believe it’s the local and regional economy. Small and medium business (SME) employs over 50% of the UK workforce but they appear fairly hampered by EU regulation.

These concerns have also been expressed by leaders of other EU nations, with one being somewhat comparable to Britain.
Poland has one of the largest populations in Europe, almost 40 million. Their population increase mirrors the UK until three years ago where the UK spiked. House prices are rising every year in part fuelled by foreign investment. Supply has been constrained and demand has been stoked by Government programmes.
Proportionate to population they have similar numbers of MP’s, with similar statistics of female representation. Both nations share similar GDP growth and income equality ratings.
Interest rates are at historic lows in both nations and like Britain, keeping their own currency has meant responsible integration.

Like Britain, Poland feels the pressure to embrace the single market and give up sovereignty in spite of national ambition. However in 2015 Poland gained a new government, one which has spent its time in office clashing with the EU and pushing a Polish agenda.
One man directly challenging the EU is Poland's deputy Prime Minister Mateuz Morwiecki, the man behind ‘The Morawiecki plan’. Placing high value on the local economy he is calling for further local government investment with a specific focus on increasing Poland’s SME market.
This is not amusing the EU.

Morwiecki identifies five challenges. The middle-income trap, lack of balance between Polish and foreign capital, the lack of innovative products, the demographic trap, and the weak institutions trap.

As a Brit I can definitely identify with these issues.
1. Middle income means a slow shift to taking on more debt, especially with UK wages.
2. In economic terms we discuss British success as large multi-nationals not local, regional and national British business.
3. Our high tech industry rarely stays British or becomes an internationally recognised brand. Our industrial strategy is based on funding big business not British SME growth/innovation.
4. The demographic trap is exacerbated by expensive post retirement care with little to no Government action to rectify this pressure on society, especially house prices.
5. Though I feel our institutions are strong our Government plays politics with their advice. This is supported by EU regulation which gives our government the excuse to not fight, or not invest nationally.

Many would point the Polish government being more right wing that Britain, and therefore we should be cautious of such ideological personalities. There is merit in that argument. However the rise of UKIP should have warned politicians they were about the experience an infrastructure debate, instead we discuss immigration. Even the most negative opinion can present some insight.

Of course the Poland story isn’t all positive. This 'For Poland' government is compromising privacy and rights at an alarming rate. Poles may feel history repeating itself. And this is where the EU shines.
The EU will challenge these core human right principles until Poland falls into line or out of the EU. And thank god for that. The EU influence on Polish LGBT communities have been positive in stimulating acceptance and conversation.

However Britain doesn’t face too many social challenges the EU could solve.  And in fact certain EU regulations such as the posted workers directive negatively affected both EU citizens and British jobseekers/businesses.  

The truth is our local economy is unbalanced and even once prosperous nations are crumbling under EU regulation. Yet the most successful EU integrated nations like Germany protect their local economy and use it as a means of investment, especially for their industrial strategy. Perhaps if we’d joined the Euro we could too? Though I’m not sure Ireland and Spain would support that theory.

This is why I'm leaning toward a decision based on small business and the local/regional economy. Not a single market model that uses grants to prop up its local economy failures. 

Frustratingly I'm still unclear what social value the EU really brings to Britain outside integration. And few politicians are presenting much past immigration and the economy. I wish they would.
However I must congratulate Jeremy Corbyn for doing two things. Changing my perception of the nasty Labour party and presenting some facts despite it watering down his ‘remain’ message.
It seems he truly does want a reformed EU, despite being somewhat 'brexit' engaged. More importantly he is willing to speak to business and communities to find out/highlight why the EU is failing.

As with the 2011 ‘Alternative Vote’ referendum, the public has been lead away from the facts by politicians with their own agendas. The 2011 decision harmed Labour and other parties in the long term; I fear the scaremongering has taken us down the same road. Though still undecided I plan to embrace the facts that matter to my idea of a prosperous Britain. I hope others do too.