AS James Richards and Colin Hall correctly point out (Letters, April 29) the referendum is not an issue of right and left.

What it is about is a choice between isolationism and internationalism, between the economics of laissez faire and those of interventionist social democracy.

That is why the only European political figure of note supporting Brexit is the xenophobe French nationalist Marina Le Pen.

Progressive anti-austerity politicians including those in Greece and Spain – two of the main victims of austerity – are not seeking to have their countries leave the EU.

It is difficult to understand how Brexit supporters can include those who want to leave the EU because it is not the Common Market they say they voted for, and those who say they want to leave because its only benefit is to big business.

Similarly they include those who will vote leave because they want more intervention on workers’ rights and those who will vote leave because they are against EU regulations imposing workers’ rights.

A study of the 700 biggest global companies shows that – excluding the UK – only 11 per cent of them are in fact in the European Union, the largest and most unionised trading bloc in the world.

As to EU bureaucrats, the number and the cost is about the same as for Birmingham City Council. No wonder the Brexiters cannot present an agreed case for leaving.

Maurice Vassie, Deighton, York