On June 23rd UK citizens, not politicians, will take a critical decision for the UK’s future – whether we maintain a forty-one-year-old relationship with the EU or leave it. Re-engagement or divorce – which way do we go? 

This decision is far too important to be left to the politicians alone to inform us. For the voter it’s almost – at least it is for me – impossible to determine the facts and fallacies from both the Remain and Leave camps in order to understand the issues at hand.

That’s why, with the David Hume Institute and the Centre on Constitutional Change, we commissioned impartial, factual analysis around the key questions facing voters in making their own minds up on the EU vote. 

With the exception of the two chapters (6 and 7) which are clearly labelled ‘Opinion’ and give the arguments for and against the UK remaining in the EU, the academics commissioned by us to look at the individual aspects of the decision hold no side in the debate. They analyse the facts and the relative merits or demerits therein to help voters – me included – to make their decision. Where an academic expresses an opinion, not a fact, that is made very clear throughout this document.

This analysis assesses Britain’s position within Europe and a portion of it takes a Scottish perspective on a range of issues, not least the potential impact of an EU exit on the composition of the UK.

Hopefully ‘Britain’s Decision – Facts and Impartial Analysis’ will play a small part in removing some of the obfuscation, hyperbole and bluster from this debate and enable an informed, constructive overview of the critical issues at hand for UK voters.

This is a major decision for us the UK voters and its important the debate leading to the vote is informed with the relevant facts and analysis – I hope in some small way ‘Britain’s Decision’ will help.

Good luck.

Sir Tom Hunter
Chairman
The Hunter Foundation