Britain's EU vote: #Brexit view from Worcester

This report is part of a series on local community views about the June 23 referendum on whether the United Kingdom should exit the European Union. 

WORCESTER, England — Thursday's looming referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union is being called a "once in a generation vote." The quintessentially English city of Worcester is a good barometer of which way the vote may go.

This picturesque riverside destination, with a population nudging 100,000, is so important in British political circles that the term "Worcester Woman" became a well-worn phrase in the 1990s, when both the Conservatives and Labour parties realized that Worcester's parliamentary seat had to be won for them to stand any chance of winning a general election.

But the EU vote on June 23 is new territory.

A recent poll by Worcester News found that 54% per cent of voters back "Brexit" — a British exit from the EU — while 44% want to stay in the EU. The rest were undecided.

What's at stake if Britain does quit has been the subject of fierce debate, but the official "Stronger In" campaign has been working relentlessly to try and sway opinion.

Britain's finance ministry claims that the West Midlands region, which includes Worcester, faces losing an estimated 51,409 jobs by 2030 under Brexit, with "a fall of £200 billion" in direct foreign investment. That's about $300 billion.

Worcester Bosch, which employs 1,000 people in the city, says it believes staying in the EU will be a "key driver" for the future of the economy and is backing "remain," as is the University of Worcester, which has over 10,000 students.

Yamazaki Mazak, which has more than 500 workers at its European production site in Worcester, says 85% of its business comes from the EU and that its future strategy is based on Britain staying in the bloc.

The Bishop of Worcester, the Right Rev Dr John Inge and Rev Peter Atkinson, the Dean of Worcester Cathedral, say they fear the city's economic, cultural and social prosperity is at stake. Five of Worcestershire's six members of Parliament also back "remain," but there is a lingering feeling many people are unsatisfied by the European project and will vote out.

Worcester entrepreneur Neil Westwood, who runs a firm called Magic Whiteboard, shot to business fame on British TV show "Dragon's Den."

The Brexit backer, 43, said: "Because I've been in business I believe in the free market, and I don't like politicians meddling — especially ones I don't know. I like Europe and European people, but I don't like the EU. And yet we send £10 billion every year to the EU from this country — nobody can tell me that is good value for money."

Westwood added: "That money could fund the jobs of 300,000 nurses. I'm really positive about leaving."

Peter Jewell, a business adviser and deputy treasurer to the pro-Brexit UK Independence Party, said: "This whole debate has been wrecked by a lack of factual information, it's like pulling teeth." He added: "If I felt Brexit wasn't good for the country I'd say so — but we've got to take back control."

Worcester's member of Parliament Robin Walker, a noted Euro-skeptic, says he will "not be able to look voters in the eye" if he backed "leave," insisting the economic risks are not worth it.

"I know there'll be some who reject all the economic evidence, and all the arguments out forward but I would just ask them to think whether it's responsible to do so," he said.

"I want more jobs, more investment and more apprenticeships in Worcester and I think a 'remain' vote would help achieve this."

But the arguments on both sides are so fevered, that some have invoked the specter of a return of war.

The Bishop of Worcester said a "leave" vote would make the world "much more dangerous," adding: "The fact is a vote to 'leave' could well precipitate the beginning of the breakup of the European Union. That would be very risky from a geopolitical perspective, it would make the world a much more dangerous place. That's why (President) Obama and most world leaders are so exercised about the prospect — and why (Russian President Vladimir) Putin would love it to happen."