THE Brexit campaign is a bit like watching a train crash in slow motion.

Some – usually those wealthy enough to be unaffected whatever the outcome of the referendum - cheerfully say that the economic shock resulting from Brexit (fewer jobs, lower wages, higher prices) would be a price worth paying. Others complacently claim that the impacts will be small because Europe needs us more than we need them.

But 44 per cent of our trade is with the EU, whilst only seven per cent of EU trade is with us.

Make no mistake, if we leave the rest of Europe will be in no mood to make concessions.

It’s no good pointing to Norway and Switzerland – relationships are inevitably much more difficult after an acrimonious split than with friends we have never dated. And if we make the decision to leave the EU, that will be it for decades. It’s not like voting to change the government every five years.

As a proud Brit, I expect my country to be strong, confident and prepared to work with our European neighbours to build a more prosperous and secure world and defend civilised values.

I don’t expect it to run and hide when the going gets tough.

Nor do I accept that we are somehow unable to hold our own alongside other proud nations in the EU.

We have led in the EU before, for example under Mrs Thatcher when we negotiated the single EU market for goods that has made us all better off by delivering safe, high quality products at lower prices. We can do so again.

For many years French President De Gaulle opposed UK membership of the EU on the grounds that that we could not be trusted. Thanks to Brexit we may be about to prove him right.

N Wheatley

St Davids Road

Thornbury