Should the UK Leave the European Union?

[Rainmaker]

Just interested in taking a quick poll on whether the UK should leave the EU.

[local]

Stand by for a wave of apathy.

[Yuri_bolerkovic]

I'm all for a European trading group but the bloated out-of-control monstrosity that the EU has become leaves me with very mixed feelings on the subject. When it gets to the point that a country loses control over it's own decision making is when it's got out of hand.

[pedoja]

I'm all for a European trading group but the bloated out-of-control monstrosity that the EU has become leaves me with very mixed feelings on the subject. When it gets to the point that a country loses control over it's own decision making is when it's got out of hand.

Good post, better than I could have put it.

I agree wholeheartedly!

[local]

The EU has been overeating for years, its a parasitic institution trying to play Robin Hood with poorer countries its not what we signed up to under Ted Heath.
I am sure if our political History was trawled this was foreseen.

Still if we leave and wish to carry on trading with EU members we will enter a political Purdah and a period of huge financial turmoil as the people who really run things, the large institutions and multinationals take stock.
We are not the power we used to be and our influence is weakening worldwide.

[xroads]

We won't leave! It will be like the Scottish vote, where all the business men will be forecasting doom if we do leave, and it will become a case of "better the devil you know".
I feel safer, in all sorts of ways, being within the EU.

[Derek H]

We won't leave! It will be like the Scottish vote, where all the business men will be forecasting doom if we do leave, and it will become a case of "better the devil you know".
I feel safer, in all sorts of ways, being within the EU.

Norway has had three referenda and voted no each time. That's a position I am quite satisfied with, even though we are top of the class when it comes to introducing EU legislation into our own.
Had we voted yes, however, I think I would be very scared of backing out at a later date. I agree with "the devil you know" thought.

[Rainmaker]

We won't leave! It will be like the Scottish vote, where all the business men will be forecasting doom if we do leave, and it will become a case of "better the devil you know".
I feel safer, in all sorts of ways, being within the EU.

I know what you mean but I am beginning to lean towards a yes after always being a no.

I think that Europe needs us more than we need them. The EU was set up as a trading community. We import far more than we export. Are people honestly saying that every European country would not be lining up to do trade deals with us... If we stopped buying BMW and Mercedes Germany would be in trouble...

There are good arguments that we could negotiate better trade deals dirct with China and India rather than being bound by an EU approach.

The thing that concerns me is that in the first line of the Treaty it states that the EU will move 'towards ever closer Union'. I don't want to be part of a federal Europe.

How many of us know who even leads the EU??? This man will be more powerful than our PM!!!

We may need to remember that Britain has always been a leader and will be just fine.

[cool44]

I fail to se what we will gain by leaving, so I vote no

[Rainmaker]

I fail to se what we will gain by leaving, so I vote no

How about the freedoms and self determination that so many have died over the years to protect.

[ex more]

We did not vote for a European Union. We did vote for a Common Market.

[grassroots]

In a word, NO.

[xroads]

Rainmaker said: "How about the freedoms and self determination that so many have died over the years to protect"

I've no doubt that your personal freedom will be better protected by being part of the EU!

And, as to "self determination"! Well, as a long time Labour voter - living in Southport - I am effectively disenfranchised under our undemocratic voting system. That is, my vote will never count for anything!

Now, if I lived in Germany...

And, I'm hoping that, given time, the EU will insist that the UK has a more democratic voting system ( like Germany!)

[local]

Rainmaker said: "How about the freedoms and self determination that so many have died over the years to protect"

I've no doubt that your personal freedom will be better protected by being part of the EU!

And, as to "self determination"! Well, as a long time Labour voter - living in Southport - I am effectively disenfranchised under our undemocratic voting system. That is, my vote will never count for anything!

Now, if I lived in Germany...

And, I'm hoping that, given time, the EU will insist that the UK has a more democratic voting system ( like Germany!)

You are right there has to be something wrong with a voting system where the majority of voters do not get what they voted for.

How many people when they voted thought that the perennial none of the above jokers the Lib Dums would sit in cabinet.

[The PNP]

We won't leave! It will be like the Scottish vote, where all the business men will be forecasting doom if we do leave, and it will become a case of "better the devil you know".
I feel safer, in all sorts of ways, being within the EU.

Agree entirely.

As E.U. citizens, virtually the entire continent of Europe is open to us for study, jobs, trading, relocating, retiring to. Why turn our backs on so many obvious benefits?

Re: The 'cost of E.U. membership' argument...Can't say I've ever had a bill for that come through the door, lol!