Leading London experts have gone head-to-head in a major debate on whether Britain should remain in the EU.
Brexit supporters and their opponents traded blows on key issues affecting the capital, including immigration and house prices, during the 90 minute panel discussion at the Royal Geographical Society on Tuesday evening.
The Evening Standard-organised debate, chaired by editor Sarah Sands, saw Tory MEP Daniel Hannan, former deputy London mayor Munira Mirza and Green peer Jenny Jones make the case for leave.
They were challenged by CBI chief Carolyn Fairbairn, entrepreneur Rohan Silva and Labour MP Chuka Umunna.
Mr Hannan said London was “the greatest city in the world” in a country with the fifth largest world economy before telling audience members the UK should look towards more “opulent markets” outside Europe.
Ms Mirza went further and compared Britain in the EU to Pompeii before the eruption of Vesuvius 2,000 years ago because of the risks she claimed the bloc presented.
Streatham MP Mr Umunna accepted there were flaws in the EU including a “democratic deficit” but said: “At least if we're in we have a seat around the table.”
And former aide to David Cameron Mr Silva insisted the benefits of being a member “dramatically outweigh” the benefits of exiting the EU – even though according to him it is currently going in the wrong direction.
