In four months the people of the United Kingdom will be asked to make the highly significant decision about whether we should stay as a central player in the EU or leave and take a step into the unknown.

To put it another way, in four months we will be asked to decide whether to have the bureaucrats from Brussels tell us what to do or to stand on our own feet.

See the subtle difference in tonality, based upon the way in which these terms are phrased?

As a simple-minded person, what I need to know is exactly how these alternative courses of action will affect my country and me, both now and in the future. My issue is where do I get the facts in an unbiased and comprehensive manner, and by ‘comprehensive’ I mean both ‘complete’ – nothing left out to skew the argument – and ‘understandable’ to me and my fellow voters. There is little point in me being fully conversant with the facts and basing my decision on this research if I am to be in a minority where the majority are making such an enormous decision based on sound bites and personality politics, so this information should be easily available.

It was Xenophanes, the Greek philosopher, who is first credited with distinguishing between truth and opinion, between belief and knowledge around 500BC and yet current politicians will not allow us (or, indeed, themselves) to distinguish between what they actually know and what is simply an opinion! But in this current debate the lack of understanding of the difference between fact and opinion is not the exclusive territory of the politician. Academics, business moguls and celebrities from all walks of life are espousing opinions for and against Exit as if they were undeniable truths.

I am listening to the arguments (‘Look at what happened to Norway’ ‘It took Canada seven long years to get a treaty’) but I am forced to challenge every piece of information; to play ‘Devil’s Advocate’ to find out what is the commentator’s fact and what is merely opinion. In this role I find myself arguing for both sides, depending upon who I am talking with, testing their knowledge against my perceived view.

This fence-sitting, this looking both ways at once has led me to a greater truth – or is this just another opinion?

I now believe that the outcome of the referendum on 23 June 2016 is totally irrelevant! At the end of the day it will not make the slightest difference. Vested interest across the globe will ensure that the U.K. will contribute, in exactly the same way that it is doing right now, to the world picture politically, economically and militarily.

When David C suggested that he knew many people who had served divorce papers but none with the ultimate aim of renewing their marriage vows, I know what he meant. However, I know of quite a few who would have served the divorce papers if they had the courage to but, lacking that spark, had stayed in the relationship and over time things had improved and a contented and satisfied life had ensued. By the same token, there are a number of people I know who have taken the route to divorce and, after a few turbulent years, had emerged stronger and happier.

At the end of the day, as an individual and as a country we can only work with the hand we are dealt and we will make the best out of this hand for us and our companions.

And that is the TRUTH!