IT IS crunch time for the UK and Europe and David Cameron has been working hard to improve the position for the UK and appease the Euro-sceptics.

A summer vote on staying-in (or getting out) is now set.

Like anything in politics, it is opinions which matter and not necessarily facts.

The University Of Chester recently hosted an event for the Institute of Directors, involving many businesses and the UKTI. The event looked at the opportunities for being an international business and how businesses could achieve this.

One of the audience questions for the expert panel was, 'should the UK stay in Europe?'

A show of hands by the panel was a unanimous yes. Europe continues to be the major trading block for the UK.

Many European companies are situated in and around Warrington and serviced by the manufacturing and logistics firms which operate in the north west.

Closing the door on Europe could mean not only a drop in trade, but also the relocation of organisations to mainland Europe. Replacing trade and business would be a massive task.

The panel said stay, the facts support the opinion.

  •  LAWRENCE Bellamy writes a regular column for business. He is the associate dean of the University of Chester's Padgate campus.