The Economist have been hosting a debate this week on their website with the motion for debate: "This house believes that Britain should leave the EU". Throughout the week there have been guest contributions both for the motion (Tory MEP and Telegraph columnist Daniel Hannan) and against the motion (Labour MP Douglas Alexander) as well of course as comments submitted by users, with an ongoing daily vote. Despite the odd choices for guest contributors, it proved an interesting debating ground and the public have ultimately had their say and despite the best wishes of UKIP and Roger Helmer to sway the vote have rejected the motion ruling that the UK should remain part of the EU. The margin of victory a very respectable 57% vs 43%.

For me, this result just goes to show that when the "UK-EU debate" is not played out across the front pages of the right-wing UK tabloids and dictated by UKIP press releases, you can have a reasoned debate and ultimately vote the right way. Encouraging.

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