EU Referendum

[Danger-Mouse]

Surprised no one has done this yet. Simple enough question. With a referendum on the UK`s membership of the EU due sometime in 2017 do you want to stay in or leave?

[Psyxologos]

I am of course in favour of staying. There is a lot that needs fixing in Europe, sure. I believe that the best way to do so is by working with others from within rather than give up and go. I am a firm believer that free movement of people within the EU is the best thing that can happen to all of us.

[welsh1]

Let's get out,we spend a fortune to an unaccountable club,which answers to no one,we can continue to trade with Europe, it is in their interests to continue to trade with us because we are a big market for them,but we have the commonwealth,and could strike our own trade deals with China and India,free movement of people is not as good as it seems,it is fine if you are coming from a poorer country to a richer one,but the price has to be paid on the receiving countries infrastructure,and as seen most "wealthy" countries did not anticipate this influx and their infrastructure is groaning with the extra pressure,,I am for movement but controlled and in the interests of the receiving country.

The EU has problems, Greece, Italy , Portugal ,Ireland etc,yet it still is encouraging others to join,there are no fiscal checks of any real depth,and the joining countries fiddle the books to get in on the gravy train that is the EU.for a long time now Germany has been acting as the bankroll of the EU but the Germans are weary of this and there have been warnings from their government that it cannot continue in this way.

 

We have always been a country to trade around the world,we do not need unelected manderins telling us who or what we should deal with,we can do it ourselves,and it is time people of my generation were asked what we want.

[KFC]

I voted out but I don't believe we will ever get an in/out referendum.

 

David Cameron has always said a referendum will come after he's got reforms to the Union and he only ever talks of a 'reformed European Union' but he never says what reforms it is he wants.

He also talks about giving us 'alternatives'.

 

I think, instead of an 'in/out' referendum, we'll get the same stitch-up we had in 2011. It will be a 'yes/no' vote offering us an alternative way of still being a member of the same club but the alternative will be so complicated that the majority will vote for 'status quo' (not the well known rock band, but the Latin translation, of course).

 

There's too many on too good a gravy-train for them to risk letting the people they say they represent actually having a say in it otherwise they would have asked us in the first place.

[al4x]

Lets face it 4 million people voted to leave in the election and if you listen to the winging from them you would imagine tat was nearly a majority

 

I never thought I'd say it but now working for a company that does a lot of europe work I would vote to stay in but with plenty of re negotiation. The difference between moving goods in europe compared to outside is huge and ok those who want to leave seem to think you could keep the trading ability the same that would assume other member states wanted us with free access.

I recon now we need a referendum even if it is to just shut the ukippers up

[welsh1]

Lets face it 4 million people voted to leave in the election and if you listen to the winging from them you would imagine tat was nearly a majority

 

I never thought I'd say it but now working for a company that does a lot of europe work I would vote to stay in but with plenty of re negotiation. The difference between moving goods in europe compared to outside is huge and ok those who want to leave seem to think you could keep the trading ability the same that would assume other member states wanted us with free access.

I recon now we need a referendum even if it is to just shut the ukippers up

Do you honestly think that those other member states would want to stop trading if we leave potentially costing them a lot of money?

Trade is a two way street and this country buys a lot of luxury goods from Europe,From BMW 's to washing machines and fridges,Europe has a huge market in the UK,and they do not want to stop trading with us.

The fact is we are a bigger importer than exporter,and Europe recognise this and will continue to trade with us.

[poontang]

There is absolutely no need to be in a political union to be able to trade.

 

The US, Canada and Mexico do huge amounts of trade with each other without political union.

Do you think Russia would allow China to dictate their laws? Yet they do huge amounts of trade together.

Do Australia, New Zealand and Fiji have free movement of people? No, yet they trade quite happily together...as do just about every other country in every other trading area in the world.

 

The EU is the only trading area that seems to think a trading bloc can only be run by having to be in a political and financial union. It's BS of the highest order.

The fact is the EU is not about trade...it's about forming a European superstate.

What has the inclusion of the old Soviet states actually brought to the party trade wise? Very little I would suggest, What it has done however is taken away the 'buffer zone' between Russia and the rest of Europe, effectively placing western Europe and its NATO backed forces on Russia's doorstep. As we've already seen in Ukraine, that's not such a good idea.

 

The EU? It's corrupt to its core, and an incredibly dangerous institution. The sooner the whole project is broken up the better for everyone. Trading with each other is fine, I've no problem with that, but can anyone tell me why we should be beholden to their law making process, or why we should not police our own borders? Genuine question.

[Scully]

Out, but doubt we'll be given an 'in/out' choice.

I just think the entire elite 'club' stinks. A big fat sinister gravy train for pigs to trough at. The video clip DM posted on another thread summed it up entirely for me; unelected, unrecognisable and unaccountable bureaucrats on massive salaries doing what?

Edited May 12, 2015 by Scully

[shaun4860]

Out, but doubt we'll be given the choice.

That's my take on things,

 

We won't get an in/out vote......

 

It will get fuddled up into something different

 

I would like us to leave

 

How can we trust an organisation that has NEVER had the books balance OR even signed off as being correct.

 

It's corrupt and rotten to the core

 

[Vince Green]

The trouble with a referendum is that it will become emotive rather than a level headed balanced decision.

 

I agree the EU is corrupt and an experiment that has decended into chaos but is just taking a hike the best option?

[ShootingEgg]

The EU was originally set up to be trade, then the powers that be started to add in ****. I say out, nothing stopping us from trading if we are out, but atleadt we wont be told what to do by some chump sat miles away with no real interest in our country.

[krugerandsmith]

I voted out but I don't believe we will ever get an in/out referendum.

 

David Cameron has always said a referendum will come after he's got reforms to the Union and he only ever talks of a 'reformed European Union' but he never says what reforms it is he wants.

He also talks about giving us 'alternatives'.

 

I think, instead of an 'in/out' referendum, we'll get the same stitch-up we had in 2011. It will be a 'yes/no' vote offering us an alternative way of still being a member of the same club but the alternative will be so complicated that the majority will vote for 'status quo' (not the well known rock band, but the Latin translation, of course).

 

There's too many on too good a gravy-train for them to risk letting the people they say they represent actually having a say in it otherwise they would have asked us in the first place.

 

Absolutely correct.

[pimpkiller]

I think support for leaving might actualy drop a little bit. The cons are soon going to back out of the ECHR bill somewhat and replace it with a british bill of rights. Now the two things are seperate but if the tories are hitting certain people hard many might hope europe might save them.

[robbiep]

Like some others, I'm torn on this one. I think we should be in a 'common market' - after all, that's what the referendum in 1975 was about joining, not a VERY political 'project' where the purpose is 'ever closer union'.

 

I'll probably vote 'Out' - because it's the only way we'll get to properly renegotiate. Vote 'In', and you can guarantee that the people in Brussels will view it as meaning we WANT that "ever closer union".

[thepasty]

without knowing the true totals of what we put into the EU compared to what we get out of it and how that directly effects me I cant say yay or nay.....

[jasper3]

i'm thinking the same thepasty, don't really know enough to vote either way, one of my concerns would be, could they increase duties on our products in to europe making our goods to expensive,

i don't like being ruled by europe, but its about what is good for the country not just me

[Vince Green]

i'm thinking the same thepasty, don't really know enough to vote either way, one of my concerns would be, could they increase duties on our products in to europe making our goods to expensive,

i don't like being ruled by europe, but its about what is good for the country not just me

I don't think anyone really knows, that the big part of the worry. Thats not going to stop a lot of people adopting the "shove it" attitude out of sheer awkwardness.

 

Much the same as happened in Scotland actually

[thepasty]

I've got a mate whos seriously into his economics, he assures me that as a country we are financially better off being in the EU but when I then ask "So how am I as an individual directly benefiting from being in the EU?" he has no definitive answer.

[jasper3]

it sure has gotten silly, why on earth we ever decided to become a part of this is beyond me, are our leaders so weak, we should have just stuck to trading,

the biggest concern for me is…it means very little to me personally, but this is going to be massive for the young ones in the future

[Rewulf]

There is absolutely no need to be in a political union to be able to trade.

 

 

The fact is the EU is not about trade...it's about forming a European superstate.

 

The EU? It's corrupt to its core, and an incredibly dangerous institution.

 

Its always been about an EU superstate.

Back to the end of WW2 the old Euro empires, Britain,France,Italy,Belgium even Portugal had vast swathes of colonial properties,and knew full well that empire days were coming to an end.

They knew that the 'new' powers the US , China and Russia would be the powers that counted in trade and influence.

The plan to build the EU started back then by certain individuals, and they want to make sure it continues,by hook or by crook.

All the countries that accepted the euro currency (besides Germany due to its massive exports) have not benefited at all,its destroyed Greece and made millions worse off.

People are not that stupid that they cant see it (are they ?) that the whole experiment has failed.Countries technically bankrupt.

Trade ? What did we do before the common market/EU ,did we not trade then?

The simple fact that Cameron is saying wait 2 years should tell you something,its just a stall.

Democracy says we should have a referendum now!

Or does our government think we arent clever enough to know whats best for us?

[TIGHTCHOKE]

I am of course in favour of staying. There is a lot that needs fixing in Europe, sure. I believe that the best way to do so is by working with others from within rather than give up and go. I am a firm believer that free movement of people within the EU is the best thing that can happen to all of us.

 

 

Why?

[thepasty]

 

Its always been about an EU superstate.

Back to the end of WW2 the old Euro empires, Britain,France,Italy,Belgium even Portugal had vast swathes of colonial properties,and knew full well that empire days were coming to an end.

They knew that the 'new' powers the US , China and Russia would be the powers that counted in trade and influence.

The plan to build the EU started back then by certain individuals, and they want to make sure it continues,by hook or by crook.

All the countries that accepted the euro currency (besides Germany due to its massive exports) have not benefited at all,its destroyed Greece and made millions worse off.

People are not that stupid that they cant see it (are they ?) that the whole experiment has failed.Countries technically bankrupt.

Trade ? What did we do before the common market/EU ,did we not trade then?

The simple fact that Cameron is saying wait 2 years should tell you something,its just a stall.

Democracy says we should have a referendum now!

Or does our government think we arent clever enough to know whats best for us?

 

I used to work with a retired Army Major, one afternoon we got talking about the EU, he asks "Do you know why the EU was really formed?" I reply "no" he follows with "To fight America..."

[ferguson_tom]

I do not pretend to know enough about the relationship between the UK and the EU to really vote on the matter at the moment. There are a lot of opinions and stories passed off as fact. When it comes to it I hope that both sides put up an educated argument rather than a bull **** emotive one just to get the votes.

 

To be honest I do not personally think people of the UK should vote on it for the simple reason the complexity of it is well over most peoples heads...including mine. Instead there should be a full proper unbiased report with recommendations put towards the house of parliament for a free vote so the MPs we voted to represent us can make the decision for us.......however this will only work if the MPs are clever enough to understand whats going on or able to educate themselves into a position where their vote is credible. That really is opening up a can of worms though.

[CharlieT]

What rather worries me is that many UK manufacturing companies, and others for that matter, are foreign owned and I presume they chose to base themselves here because we are part of the EU and as such they have "free" access to the EU market.

 

If we were to leave the EU would these companies relocate to another member state, thus creating massive job losses and all the other negatives that would go with it.

 

Seems to me that a complete renigotiation of the terms of our membership should be the first step and only if all else fails should we consider pulling out.

[Lloyd90]

I think it will depend on what the re-negotiations ask for and what they get. I know a fair few other countries are not happy either. Really it's the more affluent countries, and I remember reading recently about the rise of many right wing style parties across Europe.

 

Although immigration is something some don't want to talk about or avoid, it is an important issue and unfortunately we only have a finite amount of resources and public money, having the right to decide how we spend that money is also important, along with who we allow to use the services we have (Such as the NHS).

 

I am also very concerned, at the points Nigel Farage points out (And no, I didn't vote UKIP). Having un-elected officials giving jobs to each other with massive salaries of public money, with no way to remove them by the people, no accountability and the total lack of them publishing/auditing their finances. It pretty much spits in the face of everything democracy stands for.

 

At the present I very much want out of the EU based off the above. I feel to sacrifice these fundamentals is too much. I also believe that we won't just stop trading with european counties. Although I do think they will try to stop us leaving, first through negotiations, then through threats of no trade etc etc, as if we say "This isn't working, we are out!" I think it would set a precedent for other countries also getting the raw end of the deal.