EU Referendum

[Yojoe36]

I'd like to hear actual peoples thoughts, rather than the thick MPs

[Libertine Dream]

Well there's no harm in having a referendum so public opinion can be gauged fairly easily rather than the Daily Express's poor crusade. However no way should we leave the EU, very naive to think we'd be better without the EU

[Mike the Metal Ed]

I don't trust the people of this country to make the right decision. This is why we elect a government.

[davieG]

I don't trust the people of this country to make the right decision. This is why we elect a government.

Which would be ok if you could trust the Government.

Considering the only referendum on this was after we'd joined and was about commerce not politics then I wouldn't even trust them to have a fair referendum.

How anyone can decide whether it's good or bad to be in this political set up I don't know because the whole thing is shrouded in smoke and mirrors you never get a straight answer from either side so I guess we're stuck with self serving poltitians to decide for us.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Which would be ok if you could trust the Government.

Considering the only referendum on this was after we'd joined and was about commerce not politics then I wouldn't even trust them to have a fair referendum.

How anyone can decide whether it's good or bad to be in this political set up I don't know because the whole thing is shrouded in smoke and mirrors you never get a straight answer from either side so I guess we're stuck with self serving poltitians to decide for us.

I'd still rather trust Parliament with the question than he who learned everything he knows about the EU from the Daily Express. The public are too easily swayed to be entrusted with legislative responsibility.

[Guest MattP]

Yes. Was a good thing a few years back but since the collapse of the euro and the introduction of certain states that quite simply can't hold their fort it has become extremely volatile.

We are now giving money to countries to buy things off us. Madness.

[Guest MattP]

I'd still rather trust Parliament with the question than he who learned everything he knows about the EU from the Daily Express. The public are too easily swayed to be entrusted with legislative responsibility.

Rather people were swayed by the Express than rich patronising Liberals in the Grauniad trying to convince us we should work until 68 so the Greeks can retire at 62.

[davieG]

Yes. Was a good thing a few years back but since the collapse of the euro and the introduction of certain states that quite simply can't hold their fort it has become extremely volatile.

We are now giving money to countries to buy things off us. Madness.

It's just too big, too diverse to make it manageable and so much money is being spent supporting that diversty.

Many businesses have found that big is not always as economical and manageable and have ended up creating virtual autonomous sub companies.

They are trying to homogenise cultures that have developed over 1000s of years and itdoesn't work, you can go so far and that's it.

[Rincewind]

You either trust the advice of a politician or the bloke down the pub, Tough call.

[Guest MattP]

You either trust the advice of a politician or the bloke down the pub, Tough call.

You mean all those left wing ones that were desperate not only to take us into the EU but to also take on the euro which would probably of bankrupted us?

Im ok with "man down the pub" then in that's what you pigeonhole the whole eurosceptic movement as.

[davieG]

You mean all those left wing ones that were desperate not only to take us into the EU but to also take on the euro which would probably of bankrupted us?

Im ok with "man down the pub" then in that's what you pigeonhole the whole eurosceptic movement as.

The Tories took us into the EU, and they've both kept us there.

[Rincewind]

Politicians=the ones who are into politic for what they can get out of it.

The bloke down the pub = the know it all who thinks they can solve everything based on what they heard from another bloke at the bustop or read in the Daily Mail.

'Yeah I fink its all wrong, send em all home is wat I say an onuver fing all the banks will be broke in free months mark my words dont believe the ecomonists. I'm only saying wat everybody else finks aint I I aint fick enuff to be fooled.'

[Guest MattP]

The Tories took us into the EU, and they've both kept us there.

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

Referendum.

[Yojoe36]

50/50 so far. Only 14 votes but still.

I'd thought it would be around 60/40

[Thracian]

Which would be ok if you could trust the Government.

Considering the only referendum on this was after we'd joined and was about commerce not politics then I wouldn't even trust them to have a fair referendum.

How anyone can decide whether it's good or bad to be in this political set up I don't know because the whole thing is shrouded in smoke and mirrors you never get a straight answer from either side so I guess we're stuck with self serving poltitians to decide for us.

The European parliament has become a cesspit of opportunistic corruption and the holiest of cash cows for the beneficiaries. It is an orchestra of evil being conducted by the Germans with French collusion (what else?) and the sooner we are right out of it the better. What was always wanted was a trading alliance. Not political rape by stealth.

[Yojoe36]

Well about 75% of people, nation-wide, said "Get out of the EU Now"

[Rincewind]

The idea of the EU is good. Trade between counties which will benefit all. Not sure I believe all the stories abourt Britain being forced to comply to certain laws that sound absurd. Like the straight banana. Paper talk again. But the EU takes a lot of people to run it seems. The problem is the ones that put themselves up for the job and more importantly the reason why. Joe Public or the geezer down the pub do not have the privalage to all the reports financial figures or what goes on in the meetings that are not reported.

Not being an expert on any of the above I am unable to come up with any ideas to replace the EU. Some say Britain should go alone and set up their own import and export trade routes. But while France Germany Italy and the like are trading amongst themselves Britain would have to convince them all that they can offer a better deal.

[BoneDog]

If I was the Boss of Britain there would be no need for any referendum because we'd be out of the EU like a flash. I wouldn't give most of the scum who run the European Parliament the time of day. I'd tell them all (on the national news at 6pm) to go to hell, then spit and stick the finger up for effect and lastly chuck in a high five with my defence secretary Geoff Capes.

If the rest of Europe's leaders wanted centralised power then that would be up to them, the crazy fools.

[Webbo]

I'm with Empty.

[Daggers]

I'm with Empty.

That'll be your gay phase.

[davieG]

So it wasn't down to MPs voting based on their own beliefs, well apart from a few rebels it was the Leaders of the respective parties that decided.

Party Politics rules over individual principles.

[Dr The Singh]

So it wasn't down to MPs voting based on their own beliefs, well apart from a few rebels it was the Leaders of the respective parties that decided.

Party Politics rules over individual principles.

Isn't that the case on majority of occassions?

[accessory]

Congrats to the 483 MPs who took the only sensible option.

We elect and pay them to do a job and they should get on with doing it.

Anyone who has worked in British industry for any length of time during the past 20 years should be aware of the turbulence and disruption that would be caused by us quitting the EU. Unemployment is too high already without us walking away from our biggest and most significant area of trade. Even to hint of leaving would add further instability to difficult business conditions.

The Little Englanders in the Tory party may wail and gnash their teeth at Cameron. Some may even accuse him of betrayal, in view of his previous sceptical sentiments. But all leaders have to be pragmatic. The Tories didn't win a majority at last year's election and therefore needed an agreement with the LibDems, the most pro-EU party of all, in order to secure power. It was inevitable that a compromise on Europe would be reached in order to set up the coalition.

As for public opinion, the Eurosceptics have NO worries about disregarding that whenever it suits them to do so (for example the "reforms" of the NHS, which didn't feature in either of the Tory or Lib Dem election manifestos).

But if they want to sabotage and bring down th government for their own narrow-minded sectarian ends, then bring it on!

[davieG]

Isn't that the case on majority of occassions?

I guess but like the capital punishment I think things of National Importance should be on individual conscience. There seems to me no point in voting for a specific candidate we might all just as well have a list of the parties and vote for them. I appreciate that's what many do but that to me is wrong and perhaps why we get so many self serving career politicians. As one who finds them self agreeing/disagreeing with many elements of all parties I can't understand why there are so many totally entrenched party political supporters.