Reply to: Should we vote on Europe?

[DodgyAgent]

...and if we're not in the Eu we end up like Switzerland signing up to everything anyway but not as part of the EU. Switzerland is even part of Schengen, you don't show your passport anymore at the border, they just check the occasional car for drugs. Switzerland is a part of the EU in everything but name, it's even pegged the Swiss Franc to the Euro, costing them billions a year keeping their currency in line, it would be far cheaper for Switzerland to be in the Euro.

cheaper for who?

[Addanc]

If Britain were to leave the EU and then try to negotiate a free trade deal similar to the Swiss deal, what, exactly, does a British government bring to the negotiating table? Bear in mind that it might not even be a British government negotiating on your behalf, as there's a fair chance Scotland and Wales would demand independence and then seek to rejoin the EU, leaving England to negotiate a deal for itself.

When the UK joined Common Market the EU accounted for 35% of world GDP; the stagnating EU is well on its way to accounting for only 15%; the UK apparently has a trade surplus with the rest of the world and a deficit with the EU; the deficit being much larger than the surplus. Looks like there are a lot more trade opportunities outside the of EU sans EU trade barriers.

[Mich the Tester]

The Euro would have real advantages for the UK. Just think of the endless new opportunities for whining about Jonny Foreigner. The Daily Wail could bring out a special bumper 200 page 'invasion by the EUSSR edition'. Lots of ageing Tory MPs would have heart attacks. Norman Tebbitt would explode. And to top all that, I would be able to buy a latte in Birmingham using the same currency as in Amsterdam!

[Mich the Tester]

Quite close voting.

Anyone up for the adoption of the Euro? (AndyW option would be: I'd join the Euro, but not the EU)

I think Britain should join the Euro.

[TimberWolf]

Quite close voting.

Anyone up for the adoption of the Euro? (AndyW option would be: I'd join the Euro, but not the EU)

[Ravello]

That's the point; it can't 'go the wrong way' for you. Surely the majority can only be right if you believe in referenda.

Believing the collective will of the majority is the right way to govern doesn't imply automatic agreement with the outcome though, otherwise all referenda would be unanimous shirley?

[TimberWolf]

Sadly I think our empire had more to do with our once staggeringly large coal reserves than with our voting system.

[Troll]

Bring back the property owning criterion.

That'd sort the voters from the hoi polloi.

And a rotton borough or two would be nice too.

Should we also remove the vote for wimmin?

It's significant that the decline of the British Empire coincided with the women's emancipation movement & getting the vote

[BlasterBates]

You'll find a lot of contractors here now fully dependent on Europe, but not only contractors businesses as well. It would be impossible to go back to how it was in the 1970's when you needed a work permit to work there. If you did you'd destroy too many livlelihoods, and that aint going to happen. So even if the UK did pull out they'd have to keep all the regulations in place that allow people and business's to work here. It would be nothing more than a token gesture. The idea you can suddenly close the borders to Europe, prevent foreigners getting pensions and shove tariffs on imports is just completely absurd.

Of course everything is negotiated anyway, the UK didn't initially sign up to the social chapter, the UK doesn't have the Euro, it didn't join schengen,it has a rebate and the list goes on of things the UK didn't sign up to. I fail to see why the UK has to leave the EU to have exceptions.

Of course the UK will never the leave the EU anyway, England might, but Scotland won't.

[Mich the Tester]

Go the wrong way for me. Then I'd abide by the majority.

That's the point; it can't 'go the wrong way' for you. Surely the majority can only be right if you believe in referenda.

[Lockhouse]

How can anyone support referenda and then say the result might ' go the wrong way'? Surely if your belief in the collective wisdom of the people is so strong you want them to decide things by popular vote, it's a contradiction to suggest the result might ' go the wrong way'?

Go the wrong way for me. Then I'd abide by the majority.

[Troll]

No need to apologise to me. I am a thick skinned northerner and having been a fat bastard for years am quite used to abuse. I am perfectly capable of dishing it out too.
.

So you're OK being called a fat northern bastard?

just asking like

[keninparis]

No need to apologise to me. I am a thick skinned northerner and having been a fat bastard for years am quite used to abuse. I am perfectly capable of dishing it out too.
Besides, it was last week. I am lucky if I can remember my last cup of coffee.

Also a long suffering Leeds fan from up north.

[BrilloPad]

having been a fat bastard for years

Don't put yourself down

Let us do it for you.

[Arturo Bassick]

I agree.

And I apologise for my poor conduct last week but think we had cross wires as wasn't telling anyone what to do. Regards.

No need to apologise to me. I am a thick skinned northerner and having been a fat bastard for years am quite used to abuse. I am perfectly capable of dishing it out too.
Besides, it was last week. I am lucky if I can remember my last cup of coffee.