David Cameron has only published legislation on an EU referendum because of agitation by his own unruly backbenchers but, ultimately, it is right to give people a say on our membership of the EU.

Indeed, anyone in Brighton under the age of 55 has never had a say on our place in Europe.

The EU is far from perfect. All too often it serves the interests of business rather than people, and in some policy areas it holds power which should be devolved to local communities.

But, on balance, the EU is a positive force in our lives. European legislation is vital in protecting our rights at work, improving our environment and regulating our out-of-control banking sector.

It brings countries together to work on the issues that cross our borders and can’t be dealt with unilaterally.

Recent research by Friends Of The Earth shows us that without EU action we’d have dirtier beaches, more polluted rivers and even higher levels of harmful toxins in our air.

Over the next 12 months I’ll be touring the South East making the case for a European Union that stands up for people’s rights and protects our environment.

The time has now come for us to cut through the Europhobic rhetoric and have an adult debate about our place in the EU.

Keith Taylor, Green MEP for the South East of England