The most important 10 minutes this year

This Thursday our country faces its most important choice in a generation, as we vote on whether to remain in or leave the European Union. Your Focus Team believes it's vital that you use your vote to support REMAIN.

We believe we should stay in the EU, because that’s how we can tackle our most important problems – through a strong economy that can pay for vital services like the NHS and co-operation to tackle complex global challenges like climate change and terrorism.

Being in Europe keeps many jobs safe and makes sure we get lots of investment in Britain. But it also helps us in simple every day ways, for instance cutting mobile phone roaming charges and making sure we have access to medical care while on holiday.

Here in South Gloucestershire, prominent local businesses that provide jobs for local people have come out strongly in favour of a REMAIN vote. Airbus recently wrote to all employees, telling them: "Our position... is we firmly believe that it makes good economic sense to stay inside the EU which has helped make the company the global success story it is today. Apart from anything else, we simply don't know what 'out' looks like."

This is why your vote this week is crucial. The decision you make this Thursday will shape our country for years to come. We only have one chance – please make plans now for what time of day you will vote. You can vote at your usual place from 7am to 10pm. If you haven't used your postal vote yet, you can take it along to the polling station on the day.

There is still time to learn more and join our campaign by visiting www.libdems.org.uk/europe You can also let us know your views on the referendum by completing this survey.

Referendum campaign in full swing

On Saturday the Focus Team was out campaigning in both Yate and Thornbury for a REMAIN vote in the EU referendum on 23rd June.

You can find out why we are campaigning for the UK to stay ‪#‎INtogether‬ here- and if you'd like to help us campaign you can sign up here.

Of course you can only vote in the referendum if you're registered to vote. You can register quickly and easily online and need to do it by 7th June to be able to vote in the referendum. If you're already registered, there is no need to register again. If you're going to be away, you can vote by post or proxy.