WE READ with interest your article in the Andover Advertiser (April 1) about the various claims Britain Stronger in Europe were making in connection to the upcoming referendum.

It may have been April Fool’s Day but here’s a fact check: “The opportunity my children have to travel and study abroad”

We can travel and study abroad without the EU.

The Erasmus program is open to non-EU countries such as Norway and Switzerland, among others.

Also, Interrail/Eurail is a program for students and people all over the world, and stretches beyond the EU’s borders.

“EU countries working together to solve climate change”

Climate Change is a global issue. Only two of the top 10 polluters in the world are in the EU.

If we want to solve the problems of global warming then we need to look beyond the bloc of 28 countries closest to us.

“The decision to leave will have negative effects on our economy and security”

Europe is currently the only continent experiencing economic decline.

Being tied to the Eurozone is having a negative effect on our economy.

Freedom of movement and open borders of the EU has allowed terrorists and criminals to travel unnoticed and commit the atrocities we’ve seen in Paris and Brussels.

This has a huge negative effect on our security.

“The EU has invested huge amounts into our local area”

It’s not the EU’s money, it’s British tax payers money.

If we took took back control of the £350 million per week we send to the EU we would be able to fund these projects ourselves, with £7billion per year left over to spend on our priorities like the NHS, schools, and defence.

“7500 jobs in NW Hampshire are tied to our EU membership”

The original report actually states that the jobs are linked to trade with Europe.

Not the EU.

Trade with Europe would continue after Brexit.

“The EU protects workers’ rights, to paternity, maternity, holiday and sick leave”

Equal pay, maternity laws, workers rights, holidays, and sick leave are all written into UK law.

The idea that leaving the EU would remove these rights are nonsensical.

Once again BSE have not given us a single factually correct reason to stay in the EU.

There is nothing positive that the EU does for us that we wouldn’t be able to do on our own, and we could go further.

Jake Thurman, Andover and Dan Hannan MEP, South East England