I'm continually surprised (and disappointed) that the Remain lobby perpetuates the notion that the UK outside the EU would only be able to negotiate trading arrangements with the EU that are equivalent to those 'enjoyed' by Norway and Switzerland. There is no logic to this. If an independent nation State, with 60m+ consumers, the 5th or 6th largest economy in the world, and a key member of NATO and the UN, knocked on the Commision's door and said 'let's trade', are we really expected to believe that the response would be 'only if you agree to what the Swiss have agreed'? I don't think so. There would be some tough negotiating and I doubt that the road to an agreement would be smooth, but let's be realistic. In or out, the EU needs the UK as much as if not more than we need it. This is not about economics; it's about self determination and sovereignty. Time to lay the myths to rest and concentrate on the real debate,

I read this in the Daily Telegraph this morning:

Can this really be true? Is it possible for 30 million people to pay no income tax at all whilst 1% of that number shoulder 25% of the Nation's income tax burden? If it is then we need to be very worried as something tells me the 1% may decide to up sticks and put down roots in a jurisdiction where the tax burden is more evenly spread.

Dear Mr President,

Do the following words ring any bells?

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organising its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuse and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security"

Your forebears fought a war on these ideals and they hold as true today as they did then. Add Lord Acton's observation that: "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority", and you will come closer to understanding why there is a groundswell of opinion across the EU that the experiment is failing and that the concept of creepingly oppressive, unelected and unaccountable government must be removed.

Notwithstanding the Bookies' view that it is as good as over, I think the Referendum is still too close to call. Each side serves a rocket which is returned by the other with swerve and spin and this will surely continue to polling day. I'm still undecided although President Obama's unnecessary intervention very nearly pushed me firmly into the Brexit camp.

My straw poll confirms everything the press reports. The under 50s and business owners will tend to vote In; the Grey Hairs will vote Out. A massive generalisation but one which seems to have an evidential basis. But I feel the biggest challenge still remains largely unspoken - on the 24th June someone will have to heal and lead a fractured Nation. It will be close - I predict no more than 5 percentage points in it - which means that nearly half the voting electorate will be hugely disappointed. To an extent a Brexit vote is a protest vote and if the result is to remain in the EU then I suspect we will all accept that and move on. But if the vote is to leave the anger felt by those who bitterly oppose change will be very hard to deal with. I just hope that the leaders on each side of the debate have worked out how to deal with the fallout.