NAT is kicked out from Switzerland

[NotAllThere]

In the weeks leading up to this referendum one of the interesting points that came out was that the Swiss think Germans are benefit tourists to Switzerland and as there is not much love lost between the two, this actually had an effect on the vote...

There's certainly been a few brits chancing their arm over here since the quotas disappeared.

I have another 4 years on my visa,

Work / residency permit.

[alreadypacked]

There's certainly been a few brits chancing their arm over here since the quotas disappeared.

They started to issue L1 (1 year) permits to European's sometime last year, not the B (5 year) permit that has been issued since the EU agreement.

Like they were expecting the out come of the vote

[GreyWolf]

They started to issue L1 (1 year) permits to European's sometime last year, not the B (5 year) permit that has been issued since the EU agreement.

Like they were expecting the out come of the vote

The story at the time was that it was the final year in which they could exercise the option to put EU people* on 1 year L permits. It did very conveniently coincide with the year leading up to the referendum so it looks like they were making some sort of point.

I don't know if the option has expired now and it's back to B permits or not. Until they decide exactly how they are going to implement the referendum it's going to be a bit confusing. They have 3 years to do that.

* Strictly speaking, only EU people on either permanent contracts or temporary contracts lasting more than 1 year get a 5 year B. EU people doing typical contracts of 6 months or so have always been stuck with L permits matching their contract duration until they reach 5 years and can swap direct to a C.

[SunnyInHades]

It'll never happen. You'll never get the chance

I agree that a referendum seems unlikely given the status quo. The Tories have constantly been 'pussy whipped' by the Euro lovin' Lib Dems this parliament - Clegg's mob will do anything to deny the referendum, siding with Labour as needed.

However, if Scotland votes yes, the UK referendum will probably happen (likely followed by an EU exit) as Labour's vote in Westminster would be dramatically reduced.

From the FT 4 days ago..

"Scots’ independence would make it harder for Labour to govern UK"
"Labour would need nearly a quarter of a million extra votes to win a majority at the next election if Scotland becomes independent, according to new calculations."
"the figures make clear how important keeping Scotland in the UK is to Labour’s electoral chances."
"MPs from both major parties have told the Financial Times that it would be unacceptable, if Scotland had voted for independence, for Labour to try to form a government on the basis of a majority that relied on Scottish MPs"
"A separate Financial Times analysis shows the Conservatives would have won a 16-seat majority in 2010 had Scottish votes not been included, giving the party its first clear election win since 1992 and negating the need for a coalition government."

So
Scotland votes Yes = Westminster Conservative Majority = Referendum = UK out of Europe = Farage dancing on the street

[doodab]

I agree that a referendum seems unlikely given the status quo. The Tories have constantly been 'pussy whipped' by the Euro lovin' Lib Dems this parliament - Clegg's mob will do anything to deny the referendum, siding with Labour as needed.

However, if Scotland votes yes, the UK referendum will probably happen (likely followed by an EU exit) as Labour's vote in Westminster would be dramatically reduced.

From the FT 4 days ago..

"Scots’ independence would make it harder for Labour to govern UK"
"Labour would need nearly a quarter of a million extra votes to win a majority at the next election if Scotland becomes independent, according to new calculations."
"the figures make clear how important keeping Scotland in the UK is to Labour’s electoral chances."
"MPs from both major parties have told the Financial Times that it would be unacceptable, if Scotland had voted for independence, for Labour to try to form a government on the basis of a majority that relied on Scottish MPs"
"A separate Financial Times analysis shows the Conservatives would have won a 16-seat majority in 2010 had Scottish votes not been included, giving the party its first clear election win since 1992 and negating the need for a coalition government."

So
Scotland votes Yes = Westminster Conservative Majority = Referendum = UK out of Europe = Farage dancing on the street

I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that the UK would leave the EU if we had a referendum at all.

[scooterscot]

So
Scotland votes Yes = Westminster Conservative Majority = Referendum = UK out of Europe = Farage dancing on the street

And then watch England dramatically move towards protectionism. Hook, line, and sinker.

[DodgyAgent]

I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that the UK would leave the EU if we had a referendum at all.

One thing voting for it quite another to unravel it.

[DiscoStu]

I'm still waiting for the AtW kicked out of Birmingham thread.

[DodgyAgent]

And then watch England dramatically move towards protectionism. Hook, line, and sinker.

why would the UK do that?

[doodab]

why would the UK do that?

It won't. It'll be open borders for India instead.

On that note, I notice we haven't been overrun with Bulgarians or Romanians yet.