It is clear that if the European referendum is decided on jobs or on our standard of living Brexit will lose heavily. But there is one slogan that resonates with many. “Give us control of our country; give us back our sovereignty.”

I have thought hard on that demand. If it is valid, there would be a case that the price of membership of the EU is too high, whatever the benefits. To come to a conclusion as to whether we are no longer an independent state should not be by indulging in rhetoric, but by looking at facts.

The most important issue is declaring war. Who decides? It is obvious from the Falklands and Iraq that these decisions, for good or ill, were