The EU Referendum is, if I’m honest, a pretty complex issue. Not one I feel particularly qualified to weigh in on, despite having read quite a bit about it over the past weeks/months/years.
Rather than take a complete punt, then, I’ve decided to make up my mind based on the opinions of (among others), these folks, all of whom seem like quite reliable political guides:
Cornish Pasty makers
http://metro.co.uk/2016/06/14/well-that-decides-it-cornish-pasty-makers-want-to-remain-in-europe-5943072/
(Let’s start strong, here, people…)
9/10 Economists
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/eu-referendum-nine-out-10-economists-say-brexit-will-damage-uk-growth-1562596
The almost-always-voice-of-reason Will Hutton http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/18/eu-referendum-civil-war
The Mail on Sunday (in direct opposition to its weekday counterpart)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-3648681/THE-MAIL-SUNDAY-COMMENT-Vote-Remain-safer-freer-prosperous-yes-GREATER-Britain.html
Podrick from GoT + Cho from Harry Potter
http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political_news/14556780.GoT__Harry_Potter_and_Trainspotting_stars_back_Remain_EU_vote/(OK, so it’s only Podrick, and Cho, not exactly big-guns. But good on them for leveraging their small roles within enormous global brands for the good of the nation.)
400 club footballers, and their fans
http://www.theweek.co.uk/premier-league/70125/eu-referendum-would-brexit-destroy-the-premier-league
Tinkers
http://www.cityam.com/242240/eu-referendum-most-mechanical-engineers-back-remain-but-60-per-cent-say-eu-bureaucracy-is-detrimental-to-uk-manufacturing-and-engineering
(This one comes with caveats, sure – but nobody’s claiming this EU thing is a black/white issue, are they??)
John Le Carre himself
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/19/celebrities-including-john-le-carr–and-keira-knightley-back-the/
Obama
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/eu-referendum-barack-obama-remain-campaign-brexit-europe-a6927731.html
(“Yes we can” says “No you shouldn’t”.)
People who like wine, and not being screwed over by currency conversion rates
http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/what-would-brexit-mean-for-wine-lovers
42 Farmers (not just farmers, though, these are ‘leading’ farmers)
http://www.strongerin.co.uk/farmers_for_in_launched#53vHqVQr4UfoBqql.97
Chuka Umanna, with ethnic minorities front of mind
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/13/britains-ethnic-minorities-better-off–in-eu-black-minority-ethnic-labour-mps
Boris Johnson, the high profile Brexit-backer himself
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/02/21/boris-johnson-eu-brexit-supports_n_9286400.html
“The Continent’s Corporations” – yikes, sounds pretty darned important!
http://www.wsj.com/articles/european-corporations-urge-u-k-to-remain-in-eu-1465992549
Doctors (“our NHS”)
http://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i3302
Presidents/Chancellors/Prime-Ministers of India, Australis, China, Germany and elswehre…
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/eu-referendum-these-world-leaders-back-remain-vote-like-us-president-barack-obama-1555053
The IMF, an organisation of 189 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36024492
Asda
http://www.theweek.co.uk/am/tuesday-february-23-2016
School Teachers
http://www.qaeducation.co.uk/teachers-overwhelmingly-support-a-remain-vote-in-eu-referendum/
Eddie Izzard (He ran 27 marathons to mark his last point – a man of some conviction, then…)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-36438971
Mr Bean, Arthur Dent, Miranda, Bridget Jones and The Vicar of Dibley… apparently
https://www.comedy.co.uk/features/comedy_characters_eu_vote/
Luther, Stringer Bell & Nelson-flippin-Mandela
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/idris-elba-backs-remain-and-hits-back-on-immigration-in-eu-referendum-a3272416.html
