Would you like the UK out of the European Union?

Mrs_Bones

If we had what we originally voted on then I'd have said no, I've no objection to a sort of common market idea. Time and time again though Europe has proved it can't be trusted, it just exists to grab more power and is completely undemocratic, so I have to vote yes, get out now.

StevieJ

Fella wrote: »

Only a small sample but I guess if it were bigger the results wouldn't change. Pretty conclusive that there needs to be a referendum on this issue. A view that other people are slowly coming round to.

It may be small but more importantly it is extremely biased

vivatifosi

I'd like a referendum too, but not until this scenario has played out a bit further and we know better where we stand. I think now is the wrong time.

There are a lot of foreign owned businesses in the UK that are here partly because we have a shared culture (particularly with the USA) but also because it gives EU access. We need a better idea of the impact on UK jobs and be possession of all the facts in order to make the decision. OTOH if we are concentrating on building trade links with the rest of the world including the east at a time that power is heading this way, then that may lead to a longer term competitive advantage.

A._Badger

The big stick held over our heads by Europhiles - that we are dependent on the EU as a trading partner - is a lie, plain and simple.

Leaving aside the small matter of the 6.7 billion a year we pay to be in their club, we run a trade deficit with the EU bloc. In 2009 it was getting on for £35 billion.

There is simply no way that the likes of Siemens, VW, Mercedes, FIAT, Renault and all the rest would ever allow EU politicians to inhibit trade with such an easy, lucrative, local market.

Sampong

StevieJ wrote: »

It may be small but more importantly it is extremely biased

Not really - larger scale polls have revealed an even bigger proportion of voters want a referendum on in/out of the EU.

I would say the majority want out, but there are plenty (as this poll) indicates who are uncertain of the economic impact.

The arguments against this of course is that we don't need to be part of the EU superstate in order to buy and sell goods to countries within the EU. That is the view that I hold and I concede that many will disagree.

However here is another way of looking at it.....

If we are relying on our membership of a communist superstate for economic benefits, is this not an extremely dangerous and precarious position to be in? Would it not be better for the UK to be independent?

Fella

StevieJ wrote: »

It may be small but more importantly it is extremely biased

You're basing that statement entirely on the fact it doesn't give the result you wanted I presume?

vivatifosi

A._Badger wrote: »

There is simply no way that the likes of Siemens, VW, Mercedes, FIAT, Renault and all the rest would ever allow EU politicians to inhibit trade with such an easy, lucrative, local market.

I'm more worried about what VW, Mercedes, etc would do if the Ford and General Motors production in Europe was in the UK and outside of the EU. I'm not really fussed about what the big European companies think, more the big companies who have set up their EU HQ here from outside the EU. I spent 20 years monitoring those trends and the majority of foreign businesses setting up in the UK during that time were from the US. We have the same language and similar culture. But so does Ireland, which looks as though it will stay in, as well as having a better corporation tax structure. Still, I could hedge against this by buying a cheap house in Ireland. If the big US companies move over there in response then I'll be quids in. Or should I say euros in.

StevieJ

Fella wrote: »

You're basing that statement entirely on the fact it doesn't give the result you wanted I presume?

So you think that sampling a forum entitled 'moneysavingexpert' more specifically one covering 'houses and the economy' and dominated by 'right wing' posters is an unbiased sample, fair enough

A._Badger

vivatifosi wrote: »

I'm more worried about what VW, Mercedes, etc would do if the Ford and General Motors production in Europe was in the UK and outside of the EU. I'm not really fussed about what the big European companies think, more the big companies who have set up their EU HQ here from outside the EU. I spent 20 years monitoring those trends and the majority of foreign businesses setting up in the UK during that time were from the US. We have the same language and similar culture. But so does Ireland, which looks as though it will stay in, as well as having a better corporation tax structure. Still, I could hedge against this by buying a cheap house in Ireland. If the big US companies move over there in response then I'll be quids in. Or should I say euros in.

It's a consideration but you have to bear in mind that we do far more trade with the USA than most EU countries, as well. Moreover, Ireland will always remain a physically very small country - how many major industries could it sustain? US businesses will remain here because they need to and because if we can ever get out of this mess, we will remain in a strong position.

The EU would huff and puff but, in the end, an EFTA-like compromise would emerge, which would be hugely to the UK's advantage, leaving us free to continue building relationships with markets like Brazil, China, Korea and India - markets which are growing rapidly not, like the sclerotic EU, facing a long, slow, inevitable descent.

Britain needs to be out in the world, where it has traditionally made its living, not shivering behind an artificial wall, fearful of competition.

A._Badger

StevieJ wrote: »

So you think that sampling a forum entitled 'moneysavingexpert' more specifically one covering 'houses and the economy' and dominated by 'right wing' posters is an unbiased sample, fair enough

Odd. I see this forum as dominated by the disciples of Keynes.

In either case, a "Right wing" forum would almost certainly have returned a far greater percentage in favour of getting out. And a libertarian one, even more so.