In the run up to the EU referendum on June 23, the Guardian is asking people for their views on whether the UK should leave or remain.

Here, we speak to Dr Charles Tannock, a London MEP who supports the campaign to remain in the EU, about the issues surrounding the debate on immigration:

“Britain is stronger with a fair EU immigration system and access to the Single Market, our home market of 500 million people.

People from other European countries should not be allowed to access benefits until they have paid into the system, which was secured in our recent negotiations.

But access to the Single Market means we must welcome those who come here to work hard, pay their taxes and support our public services.

Vote Leave want to go too far, ending free movement completely.

That means losing our access to the world’s largest free trade area and a say over the rules of doing business right across Europe, costing us jobs, pushing up prices and leaving us with less money for public services like the NHS.

We would compromise opportunities for Brits to work, study, travel and retire freely in Europe. And we could see our border checks moving from Calais to Dover.

Over 100 000 EU citizens work for the health and social care sector. One and a half million people are employed in businesses owned by EU citizens.

And EU citizens have contributed £20 billion more in taxes than they have taken out in benefits. The facts are clear: the overwhelming majority of EU citizens in Britain are contributors, not freeloaders.

So let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. We must ensure fairness without sacrificing our membership of the Single Market, keeping our economy strong and securing opportunities for the next generation.

A vote to leave is a vote for risk. The Leave campaign say they’ll walk away from the single market and negotiate a new deal, but can’t explain what it would be and how long it will take.

The truth is that if we left, the EU would not give us a better deal than they have for themselves.

That means jobs aren’t safe, prices will rise, mortgages will be at risk, and funding for our local schools and hospital will fall. Leaving is not a risk worth taking.”