The debate – referred to by some as the ‘neverendum’ – has been described as ‘nasty’, ‘bombastic’ and ‘vitriolic’ and we need to appreciate that it is not just about facts and figures; emotions will play a big part in how people vote. Both sides have been guilty of scaremongering, both have presented ‘unverifiable’ facts as the truth and painted an apocalyptic future for the UK, whether we stay in or leave the EU.
We looked for balance when compiling the cover story, but we couldn’t find any electronics companies willing to go on the record to advocate leaving the EU. We looked for comment from the Leave Campaign, but our requests remained unanswered.
Perhaps one of the reasons why the electronics industry appears to be resolutely pro Europe is that business hates uncertainty and it could take a long time to negotiate new trade arrangements with the EU should we decide to leave. Investment could be held back and jobs lost: that could be the cold economic reality of Brexit.
The EU isn’t pretty and, whilst many people’s hearts might be saying keep your hands off our laws and out of our business, there are just as many whose heads tend to say, stay in – keep trading and start fighting to reform the EU into an accountable and useful organisation.
Whether we vote on 23 June to leave the EU or decide to remain, the problems of the electronics industry will remain. How do we continue to improve access to markets and people with the right skills; what do we need to do to maintain access to foreign investment; how do we maintain and grow research and development in the UK and what do we need to do to ensure that the UK is able to continue to play a leading role in influencing European codes and standards?
In the end, it comes down to outlook; are we a nation prepared to embrace globalisation and its trappings or are we more inclined to look backwards to ‘glory days’ that probably never existed?
