EU in or out you have to decide.

WITH the EU referendum less than a month away, Scots yet again have another momentous decision to make.

Whether to remain in or leave the European Union after 33 years is the latest vote we all have to cast.

The campaigns are looking very similar to the 2014 referendum with unlikely and sometimes uncomfortable alliances being formed, claims of impending economic disaster if we leave from one side and calls to reclaim lost sovereignty and do it better ourselves from the other.

There are also some questionable figures and “facts” being presented which do not tell the whole story to persuade people to one point of view.

The leave campaign is focusing heavily on its message that we send £350m a week to Brussels, cash wasted that could be spent here on the NHS for example.

They know that is not the full story.

Of that, cash comes back the following year in a rebate other countries don’t get and most, but not all of the money is spent on projects in the UK.

Britain is a net contributor to the EU budget, like the other wealthy member states including France and Germany and resources are redistributed to the poorer nations and regions where need is greatest.

Glasgow, the Highlands are among those areas to have benefitted from this policy in the past and now with new members, many of which are far poorer, cash will go to them.

This has aided regeneration projects and provided cash for initiatives to help people in the most disadvantaged communities.

Thankfully we have heard less of the stories like the EU banning children blowing up balloons which are total fantasy.

On the remain side the economic arguments are bolstered by the social arguments that Europe protects workers and human rights. Britain however is capable of and has introduced many such protections independent of the EU, the National Minimum Wage being one.

And while legislation like the working time directive was welcome the EU has not intervened to rein in governments when anti-trade union laws were pushed through.

Rules on state aid prevent state ownership in many cases and trade rules and tariffs have undoubtedly led to job losses in some circumstances.

It is also difficult to argue that the EU is a far more welcome place for big business and corporate power as big bucks backed lobbying holds sway on many issues.

The EU can be remote and unaccountable with few people aware of who their MEP is or what they do but then every treaty and major decision is agreed by the member states collectively.

No one member gets their own way all of the time, why should they.

Like being a member of any collective organisation there are benefits and there are drawbacks.

Our task in the coming weeks is to decide which way the balance tips.

Good luck.