Are you in or are you out? Digital entrepreneur and serial non-executive director says we’ve heard these arguments before

Ripon-based Judith Donovan CBE founded digital marketing consultancy JDA Group in the 1990’s, which grew to 100 staff and £10m turnover.Since then she has held roles as non-executive director at the Eden Project, York Mailing Group and the Yorkshire Tourist Board amongst others.

Are you in or are you out? Out

Why?

We’ve heard these arguments before [for remaining in the EU]. 15 years ago organisations like the CBI – exactly the same as the ones today – were saying that unless we joined the Euro, Britain would be doomed. They were wrong then and they are wrong now.

The truth is that Britain doesn’t need to be in the EU in order to succeed. We have the fifth largest economy in the world, we have a language that is spoken by billions of people, our capital city is the financial capital of the world and last year our economy grew faster than any major advanced economy apart from America. None of those things is because of the EU. In fact it’s the EU that holds Britain back.

Outside the EU we would be like any other country – trading freely with Europe and with the world but not having to obey the laws of the undemocratic EU. Our businesses would be free from unnecessary EU red tape and regulation, our laws would be passed by our Parliament and we would have an immigration system based on the skills people can offer, rather than having an open door to anyone and everyone inside the EU. I’m voting to leave the EU because it’s time to take back control.

What would it mean for your business if we did leave the EU?

I work with many SMEs and together they are the backbone of the British economy. They account for 99% of all British businesses and employ over 15 million people in Britain today.

But as a member of the EU, British businesses are being held back by unnecessary red tape and regulation. From ridiculous rules such as the shape of our bananas to the endless form filling and paperwork, EU regulations make it harder for businesses to compete and succeed.

By leaving the EU, Britain would take back control of its own laws and would be able to pass its own regulations. This would give the businesses I work with a spring in their step, and the confidence to grow and hire more staff. As a member of the EU we have also given away our ability to negotiate trade deals with other countries, meaning that British businesses miss out on opportunities to secure relationships in China, India and other emerging markets.

Outside the EU, Britain would not only continue to trade with Europe, but would also be able to trade with the rest of the world.