UK-EU Membership Vote to be held!!

[Sisko]

Seems a vote is on the horizon on a Referendum for continued UK Membership in the EU.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15354203

Will be interesting to see how things turn out, especially if the vote goes in strong support of a Referendum. With the financial situation in the EU as it is.....should Britain remain in the EU?? I think its time we pulled out to be honest.

I'm all for being a trade partner with Europe, but I have no love of being ruled BY Europe!! Norway and the likes manage fine......so why can't Britain when we're the 6th largest economy in the world!! That has to count for something.

[NotYetRegistered]

Well good for you. Just make sure you don't end up as Iceland.

[Sisko]

Well good for you. Just make sure you don't end up as Iceland.

There's a BIG difference between Iceland and Britain though.......

[Menelik_I]

Rule Britannia

Wether you agree or disagree with EU membership, at least agree that having a Referendum and giving the people a say is the right thing to do.

[Helm]

I'm not really sure what benefit leaving the EU would bring, it would probably just harm the economy.

[Helm]

It would be an option if we had the oil like Norway or just loads of money in general for no particular reason like Switzerland.

[Menelik_I]

It would be an option if we had the oil like Norway or just loads of money in general for no particular reason like Switzerland.

And somehow the EU have a magic unicorn farting billions in subsidies for the UK ... oh wait.

[justicar5]

And somehow the EU have a magic unicorn farting billions in subsidies for the UK ... oh wait.

thats not helping us the common market is (for one) however also the added power of the EU (when we actually agree to do things) is huge.

[Menelik_I]

thats not helping us the common market is (for one) however also the added power of the EU (when we actually agree to do things) is huge.

A trade deal with Indian would make the UK 10x more rich than the EU.

Also ''lol EU power'' ... the EU is mostly dead weight and the UK leverage more taking specific partners like France or USA.

[Helm]

A trade deal with Indian would make the UK 10x more rich than the EU.

Also ''lol EU power'' ... the EU is mostly dead weight and the UK leverage more taking specific partners like France or USA.

But Europe is where we happen to be. Countries will trade more with their neighbours than anyone else thats just practical sense.

[Mangalore]

A trade deal with Indian would make the UK 10x more rich than the EU.

...

How? India is not UK's crown colony anymore and thus cannot be abused as the consumer market of industrial goods anymore. Just like China they want to have a high tech economy themselves and they won't limit themselves to a singular business partner when the other European countries might have better goods and due to EU/Euro zones give instant access to a 350 - 400 milion people market.

And people citing Switzerland and Norway as being outside the EU should check again. Most of it means they still adopted EU law or were made to sign EU agreements, they just aren't a member of it and thus have no say in how EU law develops while by treaty often just as obligated to adopt it. Of course, they have certain higher autonomy but the EU is actual structured to have different layers of asscoiated countries and most of those "independant" countries are not that independant because they face a large market block they need to make agreements with. E.g. Switzerland has alot of bilateral teaties that make EU law come into effect virtually automatically and while they can theoretically reject a treaty because of it, the other side can in turn terminate all other treaties if one is cancelled by the opposing side.

Might be good for the UK, but also means the UK loses its voice in shaping or changing the EU while probably still highly dependant on partaking in various of its treaties.

[justicar5]

A trade deal with Indian would make the UK 10x more rich than the EU.

Also ''lol EU power'' ... the EU is mostly dead weight and the UK leverage more taking specific partners like France or USA.

AFAIK We have trade deals with India, and the EU was always going to be run by the biggest economies in the Eurozone, which because we didn't join, is Germany and France, (instead of a triumvirate.)

[Helm]

And somehow the EU have a magic unicorn farting billions in subsidies for the UK ... oh wait.

No but its good for commerce, foreign investment and it provides an labour pool. So there are economic benefits that's why we joined in the first place. They wouldn't even let us in the first time we tried to join as they thought we would just kick up a fuss.

[justicar5]

Backbench motion... may just get talked down.

[Erebus Pasha]

Non starter.

From the OP's source...

No 10 have indicated that all Conservative MPs will be expected to support the government in rejecting the referendum option - the coalition agreement commits the UK to being a "positive participant in the European Union" .

The prime minister's spokesman said: "I imagine we will establish the whipping arrangements nearer the time but we have a very clear policy on that and that is set out in the coalition agreement.

"We would expect MPs and ministers to follow the government's policy."

Labour says a referendum would be a "distraction" for the UK at a time when British business needs all the inward investment and export opportunities that they can get.

A spokesman said: "Britain should be focused on creating the jobs and growth we desperately need, not cutting ourselves off from major export markets that British jobs depend on."

The House of Commons will never agree to a referendum of this kind being put to the people however much some may wish for it.

[Sisko]

Non starter.

From the OP's source...





The House of Commons will never agree to a referendum of this kind being put to the people however much some may wish for it.

If the people make enough noise about it, as seems to be happening more freqently as of late, it is in their best interest to listen and act upon the wishes of the electorate. For too long the discussion on Britain's continued membership in the EU has been danced around and always ignored, with Politicians always promising Referendum's, and then pulling the rug at the last minute.

A debate is long overdue on the issue, and if the vote sways in favour of a Referendum, then its upto the British people to decide what we want.

[Erebus Pasha]

If the people make enough noise about it, as seems to be happening more freqently as of late, it is in their best interest to listen and act upon the wishes of the electorate. For too long the discussion on Britain's continued membership in the EU has been danced around and always ignored, with Politicians always promising Referendum's, and then pulling the rug at the last minute.

A debate is long overdue on the issue, and if the vote sways in favour of a Referendum, then its upto the British people to decide what we want.

Still doesn't change the fact that it's a non starter. And I believe that those in government try to act in the best interests of Britain and if that is remaining part of the EU then so be it.

I don't like the EU in its current form but I support Britain's role within it. This country can help bring about change within the EU by playing a positive role from inside the union rather than being critical of it from the outside where we'd have no influence whatsoever.

[VALIS]

I can really see this passing.

[Thorn777]

make sure to close the door...

[Helm]

I'm all for giving people the right to choose but what if they choose the wrong way? You don't do something economically damaging because a load of plonkers think you should do it.