The immigrants aren't going home, they're signing on.

[Rantor]

No he didn't. The rebate is currently 3 billion which is calculated as 2/3 of the difference between the mount contributed to the EU budget and the amount received from it.

It's a relic of history and unjustifiable in the scope of an enlarged community, which the UK massively benefits from. Of course the CAP is rubbish as well.



So it's not so much the the UK has opted in to things which others nations have not. It's rather that other nations haven't done what they were supposed to do when applying the EU policies that they signed up for?

Maybe, got any examples you are thinking of?

They have certainly adopted the euro, set up their borders according to Schengen. Those are the really visible things. What do other countries not do that the UK does?

Not quite. Its more that they act selectively as and when it suits them, and if its examples you want then you could do worse than the freedom of movement and right to work issues. I'm not just talking about the newer countries and there is plenty of material available on this. DYOR.

I'm no nationalist or europhobe but I can't see the point in Britain remaining engaged in something it sees as a perpetual threat rather than a platform for advancing your own national interests. I like living in mainland europe but its clear to me that all nationalities have plenty of the 'island mentality' we are supposed to specialise in but they play the game to their own advantage.

Long term, the EU as an entity is on shaky ground as it is extremely wealthy and totally and utterly incapable of defending itself without the assistance of the US. Of course, its different this time, we're all civilised now etc.

[DieScum]

Not quite. Its more that they act selectively as and when it suits them, and if its examples you want then you could do worse than the freedom of movement and right to work issues. I'm not just talking about the newer countries and there is plenty of material available on this. DYOR.

I can't really think of many other examples. I'm not sure they exist.

I think the UK has and will continue to massively benefit from the EE immigration. In general, the young, educated, ambitious people in these countries aren't speaking German, French, German, Spanish or Russian. They're speaking English as their most important second language and have the experience of and cultural ties with the UK.

It's like open source versus closed source. Free trade versus protectionism.

[Purple Dalek]

If nobody wants them to claim benefits then they shouldn’t be made to pay tax and NI contributions.

Absolutely. It's not their fault. Most of them won't have voted for this government. So why should they suffer.

[bobspud]

brits take the p**s as well...

It's not just the incoming peeps that get cash. I know a chap who paid to get his English mate back to england as he was flat broke, and hadn't been on the radar for a few years.

He went to the DHSS and the first thing they gave him was a heating allowance for £1000 for the last three years. (not bad given that he was in a very hot place for those years) He has found a nice house over in a sunny country that they have agreed to rent on the basis that it is cheap by local standards and will soon be jetting off to claim his dole from a beach till things get back to a more normal position...

Having worked for over 15 years but now sat on a bench for two months can you guess what I will be doing at the first opportunity???

Why moan about it if you don't like supporting it then just stop working!!