Sky News Poll Reveals Huge Divide On Europe

Thrugelmir

No, but I could be swayed depending on debate/negociations

antrobus wrote: »

My presumption is that UKIP (at least) want to be Switzerland

With the doors being blown off it's banking secrecy. Then Switzerland may not be the haven it once was. Neither will it be so wealthly.

Graham_Devon

No, but I could be swayed depending on debate/negociations

What's interesting about this poll is that for those voting no, it appears they are far more open to discussion and debate.

For those voting yes, the answer is clear and are less willing to listen to debate and discussion.

Excellent to see so many in the no camp though!

michaels

No, but I could be swayed depending on debate/negociations

pqrdef wrote: »

Who's "we"? I have no control over decisions made by UK governments. I don't expect them to be any more competent or less evil than European governments, though I do expect them to be much more driven by party politics and vote-catching.

So why would I worry over whether the UK has any control over decisions made at a European level? The UK isn't going to exercise it in my interests. It isn't even going to do what I think is right.

European elections are the only ones I vote in now, because they have a sensible voting system. In UK elections I live in a safe seat, so voting is a total waste of time.

Supose the EU parliament passed a law stating that everyone living in a country starting with the letter 'U' should pay lots more tax to reduce the tax burden for everyone living in any other country. Would your cherished EU vote give you the power to overturn this?

Simlarly how will your vote to end the situation where the EU accounts can not be signed off by the auditors or to end the gravy train of high wages and expenses for EU MEPS and beaurocrats (sp)? teh two party system in the UK means that parties will change their policies to reflect voter concerns and enact policies they have offered. There is much less pressure or this to happen at an EU level.

Thrugelmir

No, but I could be swayed depending on debate/negociations

Graham_Devon wrote: »

What's interesting about this poll is that for those voting no, it appears they are far more open to discussion and debate.

For those voting yes, the answer is clear and are less willing to listen to debate and discussion.

Excellent to see so many in the no camp though!

As I 've said on many occassions. German elections in September will be interesting. As the first opportunity for the silent German majority to voice an opinion on the subject.

michaels

No, but I could be swayed depending on debate/negociations

Thrugelmir wrote: »

As I 've said on many occassions. German elections in September will be interesting. As the first opportunity for the silent German majority to voice an opinion on the subject.

But are not both main German parties (the ones worth voting for as they have a chance of gaining power) commited to 'more of the same' when it comes to Europe?

olly300

Yes

antrobus wrote: »

Which brings up the key question to ask those who want to leave the EU, do you want to be Norway, or do you want to be Switzerland? As far as the issue of 'free trade' is concerned, the key thing is not our participation in the EU, but our participation in the EEA. (That's European Economic Area or the Single Market.) Norway is in the EEA, Switzerland isn't.

If you're in the EEA, you have to play by the EEA rules. And the EEA rules are basically set by the EU. That's Norway's complaint - they end up having to implement all those 'silly' rules about vacuum cleaners or what have you, but have little say in how those rules are formulated in the first place aka 'regulation without representation'.

Countries in the EEA do control their immigration though. I know from personal experience as a skilled worker.

wotsthat

Yes

Graham_Devon wrote: »

What's interesting about this poll is that for those voting no, it appears they are far more open to discussion and debate.

For those voting yes, the answer is clear and are less willing to listen to debate and discussion.

Wouldn't it be people that gave a simple yes OR no that are less open to debate on the subject?

As it stands now the clear majority of those who have already made up their minds would vote to stay. That surprises me given the negativity surrounding Europe and the absence of a cohesive stay campaign.

angrypirate

No, but I could be swayed depending on debate/negociations

wotsthat wrote: »

Wouldn't it be people that gave a simple yes OR no that are less open to debate on the subject?

As it stands now the clear majority of those who have already made up their minds would vote to stay. That surprises me given the negativity surrounding Europe and the absence of a cohesive stay campaign.

Surely its because of the uncertainty of what powers could be re-patriated? You could find a large number of people who voted no depending on negotiations will ending up voting no anyway because of a lack of sucess in the negotiations. The initial idea of a free market trading union of similar economic european countries sounds fantastic. It has however gone a long way beyond that and gone out of control.

Its hard to see how Cameron can recover it but I think its a good idea to give him a chance before a referendum. Lets assume the Tories win the next GE. They dont have the majority before 2015 to hold one before the GE. They wouldnt realistically hold a referendum immediately after a GE, so its fairly safe to assume it would be 2016 before one is held if there were no negotiations. So why not make it in 2017 post negotiation.

kwmlondon

Yes

olly300 wrote: »

Countries in the EEA do control their immigration though. I know from personal experience as a skilled worker.

I could not give a fig about immigration. The only thing that matters is the economy. If you've got a bust economy and your trade isn't working then your country is a s***hole for ever single person in it. If your economy is strong and thriving then you've got mobility, growth, the chance to develop. Immigration is a side issue of no importance. Yes it could do with better management but it's like worrying about who sits in first class on a sinking ship - irrelevant.

wotsthat

Yes

angrypirate wrote: »

Surely its because of the uncertainty of what powers could be re-patriated? You could find a large number of people who voted no depending on negotiations will ending up voting no anyway because of a lack of sucess in the negotiations. The initial idea of a free market trading union of similar economic european countries sounds fantastic. It has however gone a long way beyond that and gone out of control.

I just don't see a 'stay' campaign. The eurosceptics in the conservative party are reacting to the local elections and labour are just enjoying the conservatives discomfort for now. Hardly any good news coming out of Europe either.

The debate so far has hardly touched on what powers could be repatriated. Hopefully if the referendum does happen it will become more practical but for now it's almost entirely political.