EU Referendum: Do we enough information to take the correct decision?

[original PM]

I'm an IT contractor, 33 years old and I'm planning to vote out too. Among my peers I'd say it is roughly 50/50 but sadly I'm convinced the vote will come out to stay purely because I do think that all those who aren't motivated enough to make some kind of informed choice will simply say "better the devil I know".

What gets my goat is that NOBODY knows what will happen if we vote leave - let's face it, if we do leave then it will be up to the government and UK companies to make it work as best we can. Yes we'll probably lose out in some areas but it's not as if Cameron et al. can just turn round and say "haha you voted leave look at this tulipty deal we're going to get for you now". It's their job to fight for us and - misguided or not - I believe that we are still strong as a country and people will still trade with us.

The OP is right though, much like in any general election there is a woeful lack of any objective arguments one way or the other (much though each side will say *their* arguments are objective) so I'm equally disbelieving of both sides and just voting on my gut instinct as to what I want for this country long term and I don't feel part of the EU now, I'm English not European.

I am with you on this - I am not against the EU just do not want to be a part of it.

As you say we will make it work should the vote be yes for Brexit.

If the vote is no for Brexit we can all sit on our asses and do nothing and wait to be told what to by our lords and masters.

[DimPrawn]

EU referendum: More than 300 business leaders back a Brexit

[Willapp]

I am with you on this - I am not against the EU just do not want to be a part of it.

As you say we will make it work should the vote be yes for Brexit.

If the vote is no for Brexit we can all sit on our asses and do nothing and wait to be told what to by our lords and masters.

To be honest if it's a no then I will seriously consider emigrating in the near future. Yes I know the grass is always greener etc. but I'm sure there are places where it actually IS greener. New Zealand is top of my list...

[DimPrawn]

To be honest if it's a no then I will seriously consider emigrating in the near future. Yes I know the grass is always greener etc. but I'm sure there are places where it actually IS greener. New Zealand is top of my list...

I have a few friends that emigrated to NZ. The North Island is nice and warm, there's jobs, especially in the public sector. They will never come back to the UK, their lifestyle is mind blowing.

One of them has got a place like this, but much bigger, for the price of a flat in Brum.

5 bedroom house for sale in 531 Wainui Road, Raglan 3225, New Zealand

[DimPrawn]

100 leading City names sign letter backing Brexit | Politics | News | London Evening Standard

[dx4100]

Just got this from Microsoft mass email

Ahead of the referendum in June, we've been asked by employees, customers and partners about Microsoft's view on the UK's membership of the European Union. As a business in an industry which will be affected by the decision we have carefully examined our position.

First and foremost, we want to emphasise that we firmly believe this is a decision for individual voters to make, based on the issues that are most important to them. We appreciate and respect that there are a range of reasons that motivate people on both sides of the debate, but as a business that is very committed to this country, our view is that the UK should remain in the EU.

We have a long history here. It's where we opened our first international office in 1982 and we have been investing in the UK ever since. We have more than 5,000 highly qualified people working in fields including support, marketing, gaming, communications, cybersecurity and computer science research. We've built a global centre of excellence for the development of artificial intelligence and other computing disciplines. We've also worked in partnership with innovators, entrepreneurs and people with a passion for technology to help to create a thriving partner network of around 25,000 British businesses.

Historically, the UK being part of the EU has been one of several important criteria that make it one of the most attractive places in Europe for the range of investments we have made. At key moments in our international growth we have specifically chosen to invest in our capabilities here in the UK. Most recently, we announced that we would start offering cloud services this year from new UK-based data centres. And as we've grown, so too have the UK technology businesses we work with.

For us, the UK's membership of a wider EU was also a key reason why we chose to invest in our first overseas R&D laboratory in Cambridge. Why? Because we knew that the world-leading scientists we wanted to attract would want and need to work directly alongside other great researchers from across the region. This flexibility of doing business attracts the best people, and the investment that follows them, to the UK.

Whatever the outcome of the referendum, we respect the decisions made by UK voters. Our commitment to our staff and business here remains firm, but we also believe the UK remaining in the EU supports important criteria for continued and future investment by Microsoft and others.

Yours sincerely,

Michel Van der Bel

UK CEO
Microsoft Ltd

Microsoft wants the UK to stay in the EU

[PurpleGorilla]

Big U.S. corp wants status quo to stay the same shock horror.

[rl4engc]

Microsoft wants the UK to stay in the EU

Most if not all big businesses will want to, as that way they get to write their own laws with no pesky voters to interfere.

Want to make software piracy a crime with unlimited fines and up to 10 years in jail? Vote for the EU!

Also nothing in the MS quote would be any different if we exited; would we deport all highly skilled Engineers working over here? Stop hiring new ones from Europe? No.

[DimPrawn]

Big U.S. corp wants status quo to stay the same shock horror.

Leaving the EU would make no odds. Any important EU worker/researcher/academic would be granted a work permit, no probs post Brexit. If they meet the grade and want to stay, they could be offered perm residency after a number of years.

The inners seem to think no one from the EU would be allowed in or allowed to work here, it's a joke. They just need to apply and if they meet the points level, they can have a work permit.

[AtW]

EU still funds bull fighting, despite MEPs voting against agricultural subsidies. Another case of Council being undemocratic..

European Council Fails to End Bullfighting Subsidies – but This Is Not the End | PETA UK

Why is it undemocratic to fund bull fighting???