MoneySaving Poll: How will you be voting in the EU referendum?

globalds

pointless poll if you can vote as many times as you want ..surely in a forum people register to use ..a one person one vote system could be arranged ?

Avocati

I had not noticed the button you have highlighted in your post, so thanks for pointing it out, but surely if people are able to vote twice or more, surely that is true of both camps?

Okay it can be argued the poll is distorted, but do you really think anyone would vote more than a few times?

I personally can't be bothered, once is enough.

The referendum will give a result even though it would appear, EU residents having been sent a polling card, that may be distorted too?

SavingFish

Whatever your view, I'm glad to see that the discussion here is mostly civil

I will be voting to remain, but this is just my opinion, and I would encourage anyone on any side to do their own research.

My thoughts:

Yes, purely in terms of the EU budget we are a net contributor, but why is this?

The EU has what are called structural funds. These are distributed to economically weaker countries (those with GDP<75% of the EU average). The idea is that, by helping the weaker economies to catch up, the EU as a whole goes up. "A rising tide lifts all boats." (It is important to take stock of the last 40 years here, and not just the recent global recession.)

If our economy here in the UK benefits, that means greater tax receipts for the government, and overall more money to spend on our priorities, not less.

Now, personally I believe we have benefitted economically, but there's also an altruistic aspect to this. It was covered in the government's 1975 referendum leaflet, but is sadly not even a footnote in this campaign. I consider myself very lucky to have been born in the UK, but if we can help poorer regions AND ourselves at that same time, that sounds like a double win.

I also believe the EU has done a lot in terms of employee and consumer protections. (These often take the form of EU "directives" which are then implemented as UK laws, leading some to mistakenly think that such protections have nothing to do with the EU.) Big businesses are keen to stay in the EU (because of the market access) despite the EU forcing them to be more responsible. Again, this feels like a double win.

I know there's much more to the referendum than this (and I'm happy to discuss any of it). This is simply my own positive case for voting remain

marleyboy

Avocati wrote: »

Okay it can be argued the poll is distorted, but do you really think anyone would vote more than a few times?

Surely not, after all this is MSE, a Troll free, level headed forum,.. who possibly would spoil a poll on MSE? (sarcastic reply)

Ageing_Stick_Insect

marleyboy wrote: »

WOW - Its no wonder his POLL is so popular. I have just voted FOR THE THIRD TIME on it. To assist me it even includes a link to VOTE AGAIN.

Well done Martin, Yet another POLL open to abuse.

That's what's concerning me. How many people have voted multiple times? I certainly haven't. Having said that the ratio of Exits to Remains yesterday evening was 63/37 and today with thousands more votes it's 64/36.

It seems odd the ratio has remained almost unchanged. I want to believe that 4 of the 5 polls here show Leave ahead with only those ineligible leading the Remain camp.

In theory it should be a walkover. We'll know in 3 weeks.

micadog

Well lots may disagree but I'm voting to stay (I'm 63). Leaving willNOT miraculously solve our immigration problem or anything else for that matter. You can all shout what you like but the truth is no-one really knows what would happen if we left. Even the so called experts can only speculate. What we should be doing is getting the government to amend the criteria on immigration and the illegibility for benefits for immigrants. I lived in Spain for 12 years and they thought our benefits system was ridiculous. There you do not get benefits for everything especially if you are a foreigner. Unemployment benefit is accrued (3 months benefit for each year of employment). You should have to pay in before you can take out. I agree with the other person about maybe a points system or at least finances to support themselves for immigrants outside the UK also private health insurance until they have worked for at least a year. Leaving is not the answer to all our problems. There's usually safety in numbers and with the ever present terrorist threats we need all the support we can get. Better the devil you know.......

Avocati

... I join this site discussion board yesterday for the first time.

Okay you can have your views concerning a dodgy poll, I agree and was disappointed that the ability to vote twice may skew the result.

But as another poster has pointed out the ratio of leave and stay have remained more or less the same since the first few hours of conception which makes me think the result is more or less right for MSE users.

Thanks for your patience.

sarlacpit

It's an interesting referendum.

The immigrants do not steal our jobs. They take our jobs - the ones that some people wont do because it's beneath them, they are too lazy or it is not a pleasant one. I am in the opinion that this is an excuse from those milking the system. But here is a fact... the NHS actively searches outside of the U.K. to find doctors & nurses because there are not enough qualified doctors & nurses in the U.K. to meet demands and they are on equal pay.

I am in the opinion that leaving the EU will make everything suffer.
Will we kick out the immigrants? Will we demand the immigrants pay a Visa? Once the immigration numbers have dropped will the unemployed fill the vacant positions? If not how can the businesses with the shortfall in staff continue to provide goods/services? Will builders stop building? Will the NHS fail? Will investors stop investing? Will the British pound weaken against the Dollar or the Euro? Will the economy go into a slump? Will businesses close? Will there be more unemployment as a result?

Immigrants are symbiotic with our country. They pump money in to the economy by purchasing what they need to live comfortably from British businesses, they pay taxes which goes to back to the Local Authority for emergency services, Education & Healthcare. British companies get money given from the EU. Does your village in the middle of Yorkshire get Superfast Broadband? This is due to EU funding! Does your child's school benefit from this service?

There are people for and against leaving and I will be voting in all honestly but if you are against that is fine but don't put immigration your primary reason to leave. Immigration is being made a scapegoat. I think immigration is a good thing it's a freedom of choice. We are all people, put aside your choice to be prejudice or even perhaps xenophobic and choose to embrace the those from other cultures we can learn from each other.

Happy voting - What ever you decide folks. :beer:

I would be interested what MSE thinks about the Referendum. people trust him and this site. We might request some guidance.

marleyboy

Avocati wrote: »

... I join this site discussion board yesterday for the first time.

Okay you can have your views concerning a dodgy poll, I agree and was disappointed that the ability to vote twice may skew the result.

But as another poster has pointed out the ratio of leave and stay have remained more or less the same since the first few hours of conception which makes me think the result is more or less right for MSE users.

Thanks for your patience.

I imagine so (welcome to MSE BTW ) but imagine if it was the referendum, would you be happy with Camecon or IDS saying "As the ratio of leave and stay have remained more or less the same, the result is more or less right ".

It would be a pretty hard pill to swallow.

Mithos

sarlacpit wrote: »

It's an interesting referendum.

The immigrants do not steal our jobs. They take our jobs - the ones that some people wont do because it's beneath them, they are too lazy or it is not a pleasant one. I am in the opinion that this is an excuse from those milking the system. But here is a fact... the NHS actively searches outside of the U.K. to find doctors & nurses because there are not enough qualified doctors & nurses in the U.K. to meet demands and they are on equal pay.

I am in the opinion that leaving the EU will make everything suffer.
Will we kick out the immigrants? Will we demand the immigrants pay a Visa? Once the immigration numbers have dropped will the unemployed fill the vacant positions? If not how can the businesses with the shortfall in staff continue to provide goods/services? Will builders stop building? Will the NHS fail? Will investors stop investing? Will the British pound weaken against the Dollar or the Euro? Will the economy go into a slump? Will businesses close? Will there be more unemployment as a result?

Immigrants are symbiotic with our country. They pump money in to the economy by purchasing what they need to live comfortably from British businesses, they pay taxes which goes to back to the Local Authority for emergency services, Education & Healthcare. British companies get money given from the EU. Does your village in the middle of Yorkshire get Superfast Broadband? This is due to EU funding! Does your child's school benefit from this service?

There are people for and against leaving and I will be voting in all honestly but if you are against that is fine but don't put immigration your primary reason to leave. Immigration is being made a scapegoat. I think immigration is a good thing it's a freedom of choice. We are all people, put aside your choice to be prejudice or even perhaps xenophobic and choose to embrace the those from other cultures we can learn from each other.

Happy voting - What ever you decide folks. :beer:

I would be interested what MSE thinks about the Referendum. people trust him and this site. We might request some guidance.

Agree totally. People just don't understand the basis on how and why the majority of immigration in this country works. Too many just focus on the tiny minority who abuse the system.

It would be great in Martin's blog next week if he told us we would benefit from leaving the EU because of XYZ, but he won't say anything like that because he (along with everyone else) doesn't know.

So my view is that it's far better for us not to take such huge risks and instead stay as we are and work to change things within the EU rather than gamble so much by "hoping for the best".

Agree with others about the MSE poll, it's quite interesting and yes it's a shame there isn't a breakdown by age. The MSE audience is quite specific and I don't think truly representative of the entire UK, but I guess we'll find out soon enough!