The rich parts of the EU contribute to the poorer parts of the EU. Many of the poorer parts of the UK have benefited greatly from EU structural funds, including the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund. Merseyside is one, and it has been transformed since the days of the Boys from the Blackstuff. And if you think that any UK government would have put the resources into Merseyside that the EU did, you are having a laugh.