Fiona Godlee , editor in chief , Kamran Abbasi , executive editor , Anne Gulland , freelance journalist , Rebecca Coombes , acting head of news and views The BMJ, London, UK Correspondence to: Fiona Godlee fgodlee{at}bmj.com

Next week’s vote on membership of the EU has huge implications for health and science. In an unusual move, Fiona Godlee and colleagues explain why The BMJ believes we should stay in

Thursday 23 June is a momentous day for the UK: voters will decide whether we should leave or remain in the European Union. In a break with tradition we, on behalf of The BMJ, have decided to come out and state our considered view that the UK should remain in the EU.

Some readers may wonder why The BMJ is intervening in a political debate. We think this issue transcends politics and has such huge ramifications for health and society that it is important to state our case.

Over the past five weeks we have published a series of articles looking at the main arguments for leaving or remaining in the EU in terms of their effects on health and the NHS.1 As always with our news and features coverage, we have strived to maintain neutrality, but as the series has progressed it has become increasingly obvious that the arguments for remaining in the EU are overwhelming, and that now is not the time for balance.

The BMJ is in good company. Over the past few months …