Question Time Last night

socrates

It struck me watching the programme that every time an issue was discussed - it came back to the fact that we have to do what we have to do because we are in Europe

Europe seems to dictate everything - so why for example do we not have Welfare Benefits that are uniform across Europe so that certain groups do not need to cross so many other European borders to get here

I would love to see someone who knows what they are talking about backed up with figures and statistics to blow IDS out of the water - the guy is so arrogant and stubborn - trying to prove his point event though his ideas are doomed - all because he got a vote of no confidence when he was Tory Leader

His next target is the pensioners - why does he not suggest that wealthy pensioners give up certain benefits and then he can pass them on to poor pensioners?

penrhyn

As an alternative suggestion, welfare benefits for immigrants*, should be paid at the same level s was paid in their country of origin.
You can't have common levels across the EU because their is no fiscal union.

* Of course they shouldn't be here in the first place without having a job to go to.

Sampong

socrates wrote: »

it came back to the fact that we have to do what we have to do because we are in Europe

Yup - that is exactly what the problem is.

And the key point is that they are all unelected. That is very significant.

socrates

One other point why did IDS not test Universal Credit in his OWN borough first???

Conrad

ukcarper wrote: »

he may or may not be bigoted but his answer to how pulling out of EU would affect our trade with EU was his normal. Mercedes and BMW would still sell their cars to us. I'm sure they would but I'm not so sure Nissan Honda etc will continue to make them here if they don't have free access to EU.

Really, some global players have invested in places like Turkey and Morocco right on Europe's doorstep so I'm pretty confident we would still attract them for all sorts of reason. Plue we would be part of a club of 10 European nations on the outside - there's a lot of bargaining power right there.

The_White_Horse

maybe if europe was actually elected and accountable people may have a shred of respect for it.

socrates

penrhyn wrote: »

As an alternative suggestion, welfare benefits for immigrants*, should be paid at the same level s was paid in their country of origin.
You can't have common levels across the EU because their is no fiscal union.

* Of course they shouldn't be here in the first place without having a job to go to.

No fiscal union - lets just create one for Welfare - an interesting test - like the one on Cyprus and bail ins!

penrhyn

Well thats going to work! I guess you expect the German tax payer to finance it?
Those who are capable of work and do not shall not eat.

socrates

penrhyn wrote: »

Well thats going to work! I guess you expect the German tax payer to finance it?
Those who are capable of work and do not shall not eat.

Seriously - they work out the cost of living in each EU country and set the welfare rates accordingly across the board so even though you may get more in one country - it costs more to live and as such you are left with the same amount to survive on

Thrugelmir

socrates wrote: »

so why for example do we not have Welfare Benefits that are uniform across Europe so that certain groups do not need to cross so many other European borders to get here

That's what a Federal Europe is all about. The trouble is the politics came before finance. So the EU has ended up in a complete mess. With huge fiscal inequalities. These can only be resolved if the poorer southern member states can devalue their "Euros". Many other issues to address as well. Not least tax collection and tax rates. One size does not fit all.