Skills over nations

It was unfortunate that Anna Notaro’s letter chose to make an unfounded accusation of “prejudicial attitudes towards Southern European citizens” rather than engage with my argument that the European Union is a 1950s institution unfit for the modern age (“Spanish supposition”, Letters, 7 January).

I criticised the fact that Italian or Spanish citizens have more right to work and study here than their Asian counterparts because I believe that immigration should be based on skills, not nationality. My examples were random. Notaro’s opposite view is rather Eurocentric for my tastes, but I am sure it is not motivated by prejudice.

Ad hominem attacks come from a side that is losing the debate. I believe that come the referendum on UK membership in the EU, many academics will vote to leave, because they support British universities continuing to work on and receive funding from EU programmes, but also want them to be free to facilitate future global academic cooperation beyond Europe’s limited borders.

I wish Notaro well with her own research, which I have no doubt will flourish as Britain leaves the EU and leads the world in education and science.

Jamie Martin
London

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