Sir, – Jane Collins (D&S letters, March 14) blames the decline in manufacturing output and the loss of jobs on the European Union (EU). How then does she explain the similar loss of manufacturing jobs in the USA? Britain has been a member of the EU for over 40 years. A lot has changed – for better and for worse – over those decades. To blame everything bad – or everything you don’t like – on the EU might make headlines, but it doesn’t make sense.

The jobs in manufacturing have disappeared because managers have out-sourced production to China and other low-wage economies. That increases profit and shareholder value in the short term, and the managers reward themselves generously. For the last 30 years our governments have watched this process complacently because they think profit and shareholder value are all that matters.

In blaming “regulations, employment legislation and taxation”

for job losses rather than the operation of managers and the market, Ms Collins seems to agree with this world-view.

It’s called free-market capitalism.

If you don’t like it, don’t blame the EU, look for a better alternative – for instance, at www.greenparty.org.uk/policies.

DAVE DALTON Station Road, Richmond.