Britain and the EU

wotsthat

Generali wrote: »

As with Scotland leaving the UK, the UK cannot expect any sweetheart deals if they leave the EU. The knives will be out to stab the UK in the back. There is zero chance that the EU is going to encourage separatism.

The argument goes that this would be stupid because it would damage trade, the EU need the UK etc. but, of course, it misunderstands human nature. My widget supplier in Portugal wouldn't want to stop sending widgets but it would be up to the politicians and not him.

The remaining members would want us to fail as a warning to anyone else that wanted to leave. People really do cut of their noses to spite their face. Again the outers would argue if our friends are so horrid why would we want to stay but, again, it misunderstands human nature because we're no different. If Scotland left the UK at the end of the next series of referenda it would be better for the UK if Scotland thrived but who wouldn't engage in a bit of schadenfreude if it went tits up?

We already know exactly how every contributor to this thread will vote so personally I'm more interested in how the campaigns pitch their arguments because, I think, most people have made up their minds and whatever floaters there are are less likely to turn up anyway.

zagubov

Generali wrote: »

If the UK leaves the EU and joins the EEA then you can wave goodbye to the City. That's 5+% of GDP and probably a fair bit more than that in tax revenues down the Swanee for a start.
.

And why would the City find leaving be less disruptive and expensive than staying?

Generali wrote: »

That, of course, is assuming that the UK can join the EEA.

As with Scotland leaving the UK, the UK cannot expect any sweetheart deals if they leave the EU. The knives will be out to stab the UK in the back. There is zero chance that the EU is going to encourage separatism.

They'll have to sell to us as well as buying. Can they afford to treat us a like a Switzerland when they could treat us as Norway?

Generali

zagubov wrote: »

And why would the City find leaving be less disruptive and expensive than staying?

Because the UK Government has a veto if the UK is in the EU. It would take a couple of very simple rule changes to trash The City as a financial centre and there would be nothing that the UK or City could do about it.

zagubov wrote: »

They'll have to sell to us as well as buying. Can they afford to treat us a like a Switzerland when they could treat us as Norway?

EU GDP is a little over $13.5tn (depending on how you measure it) the UK's is a little under $2.7tn. The EU can afford to screw the UK over just to discourage other countries from leaving.

Like many supporters of Scottish independence you seem to think that the little people can do the same as the big ones. That's simply not true and rather naive. The EU will happily crap on the UK from a great height simply to discourage countries like Greece from quitting. We've already seen that the EU was perfectly happy to throw the Greek banking system off a cliff for its Government merely suggesting that the EU revisit the total amount of EU debt. What do you think happens to the UK if they leave?

michaels

wotsthat wrote: »

We already know exactly how every contributor to this thread will vote so personally I'm more interested in how the campaigns pitch their arguments because, I think, most people have made up their minds and whatever floaters there are are less likely to turn up anyway.

Wish I knew how I will vote.

I know it can't be untangled etc etc but I wonder what different trade offs people would be willing to accept in terms of gdp per head compared to sovereignty.

If leaving were to add to gdp would anyone still be in favour of staying in?

How about if it were neutral?

How about if it cost 2% of gdp per head?

Mistermeaner

I'm not sure how I'm voting either

Generali

Anyone know if I can vote? I can vote in UK General Elections but I don't bother because:

1. It's not really my business
and
2. My former constituency is so Tory that Labour don't even bother to put up local Government candidates.

I'll stick my oar into a referendum, just to save you lot from yourselves.

kabayiri

Generali wrote: »

..
I'll stick my oar into a referendum, just to save you lot from yourselves.

So...you are happy to save us from malicious EU politicians but not malicious UK politicians ...

Good to know

Generali

kabayiri wrote: »

So...you are happy to save us from malicious EU politicians but not malicious UK politicians ...

Good to know

I am here to serve.:A

wotsthat

Mistermeaner wrote: »

I'm not sure how I'm voting either

To stay.

michaels wrote: »

Wish I knew how I will vote.

To leave.

You're welcome.

Generali

wotsthat wrote: »

To stay.



To leave.

You're welcome.

In that case they can form a two line whip and go down the pub instead.:beer: