By Martin Williams

Mayo Wynne Baxter

 

A short while ago Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce held a fun debate about whether hedonistic Brighton and genteel Hove should revert to their former separate identities. A split was never a serious consideration, but the subject gave rise to a lively debate about the city’s identity. There is passion and dynamism here and it needs to be nurtured. In the wider world there are calls for splits of a larger kind. Scotland is deciding whether to go its own way next year. We cannot influence that debate, but those calling for the UK to leave the EU can hardly complain about the Scottish National Party’s agenda.

This leads to the inevitable question of what has Europe ever done for us? I find it hard to believe it’s all bad. As a lawyer I am baffled by the almost deliberate confusion created by some between the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. For those who have been understandably confused by misinformation, the latter is not part of the EU set up, although leaving the European Court of Human Rights would damage our own reputation for justice and reduce our ability to influence countries that treat their citizens with contempt. Being part of Europe is a geographical certainty not a choice, so the question is whether or not to stay in the EU.

I find it odd that some people argue membership of the EU is to blame for half the problems with this country. First, there are the business benefits of belonging to the EU – it allows us to compete in a vast marketplace. I will happily criticise some of the directives (the working time directive comes to mind) but we need perspective. For example, those who fly regularly would not want to give up the regulations that protect air passengers.

The opportunity to recruit from an unrestricted EU-wide pool is another commercial advantage. Immigration curbs on acquiring talent from further afield are bad enough. There’s no doubt it would be nice if we produced all the workers we need on British soil, but we don’t. Rather than stopping talented people joining our businesses, let’s raise our own standards of education, apprenticeships and training rather than complain about overseas competition. If that means trying something different with Brighton Aldridge Community Academy, then go for it.

Businesses can also work with existing education providers such as City College Brighton and Hove who are helping raise the city’s skills base. While the national curriculum can be constraining, imagination can help schools expand their horizons.

An open and expansive market is an opportunity. Being outside that market is a problem. The regulations that govern the EU will still be there even if we are not. We will still have to comply if we want to export to EU countries. The answer is responding to the market, not running away from it. To paraphrase a former president, ask not what the EU can do for Brighton and Hove, but what we can do for the EU.