I am grateful for the Hereford open meeting on the EU referendum chaired by Jesse Norman. The packed room testified to wide spread interest and with young people taking part, though not entitled to vote.

We started with Economics, leaving Security and Identity, the other broad areas for consideration, to be overshadowed. Despite being urged to explore rather than merely state opinions, I found statistics with claims and counter claims unhelpful. We were advised we could check information (Jesse's website has many useful links) but this 'debate' raised other questions for me. I wonder whether the vote is about more jobs and money. A young person asked about leadership. I too would like more examination of identity and sense of purpose. What is the future we want to build?

Does 'sovereignty' mean 'more power to control our borders'?.. Can we even be sure what our borders will look like if the mood to go it alone continues? And are we effective in what we do control? The EU has developed massively – but then the world is very different. Terrorism, global warming, big corporations, internet fraud and hacking affect us all.

Independents do not get far in politics – which is why we have parties with all the compromises that involves. What keeps people working together? I hope that the further 3 meetings will allow more exploration of how we build our future.

Barbara Ferris

Hereford