Europe..

[Reg Smeeton]

 ..the general political consensus on here is mainly UKIPy and somewhere to the right, with the odd notable exception, so this in the Torygraph, came as a surprise.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/10067402/Economic-case-to-stay-in-EU-is-overwhelming-say-business-leaders.html

What da ya reckon Europhobes?

These are interesting times...Cameron looks dead in the water, and is going to have to give a referendum on the EU. The Sweaties have their vote coming up and showed on Thursday, what they think of Farage. So it's not inconceivable, that we could soon have an independent Scotland, embedded in the Eurozone, as Salmand hopes, with a rump of England/Wales/NI, withdrawing from the EU.

[Sippo]

The final countdown?

[@MacPhlea]

The final countdown?

The final countdown?

Beat me to it...

[Samdy Gray]

Whilst we could do without some of the bureaucracy that comes out of Brussels, it'd be a certain kick in the bollocks for the economy if we left the EU.

[Abrahammer]

Scotland ain't going anywhere, the "Yes" vote is struggling to stay above 30% in the polls

[leefer]

..the general political consensus on here is mainly UKIPy and somewhere to the right, with the odd notable exception, so this in the Torygraph, came as a surprise.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/10067402/Economic-case-to-stay-in-EU-is-overwhelming-say-business-leaders.html

What da ya reckon Europhobes?

These are interesting times...Cameron looks dead in the water, and is going to have to give a referendum on the EU. The Sweaties have their vote coming up and showed on Thursday, what they think of Farage. So it's not inconceivable, that we could soon have an independent Scotland, embedded in the Eurozone, as Salmand hopes, with a rump of England/Wales/NI, withdrawing from the EU.

A middle ground will be haggled.....Brussells will throw us a few scraps to keep us happy.

Shame that all we ever hear about is the fucking economy....is that all we are in Europe for,seems it is.

What i cannot fathom is how a country that decimates the world twice in the last hundred odd years can be at the top of the Euro tree dictating(sorry)what every other country has to do.

Really is a mad world.

[Reg Smeeton]

A middle ground will be haggled.....Brussells will throw us a few scraps to keep us happy.

Shame that all we ever hear about is the fucking economy....is that all we are in Europe for,seems it is.

What i cannot fathom is how a country that decimates the world twice in the last hundred odd years can be at the top of the Euro tree dictating(sorry)what every other country has to do.

Really is a mad world.

I'm not so sure...the Tories will get their referendum, and there are a lot in the party looking for a complete withdrawal. As regards how the country might see it, it's hard to tell....doubtless, the don't give a shit and wont bother to vote, will make up a sizeable number. The Phobes, will be keenest to turn out.

I remember the 75 referendum....Thatcher was for staying in, the Labour left for leaving, which is how I voted. The argument of the left, that the EEC was largely a banker's construct that would impede worker's rights and social reform.

Strangely the arguments would be reversed now.  Enoch Powell, sided with the Labour Party, over Europe before the 74 election, becasue of Wilson's promise of a referendum in 75.

[leefer]

I think the Tories will get caught napping Reg,i dont think they will win the next election even with the promise of a referendum.
It is going to get messy and Labour must be loving the fact that they dont have to tell there supporters that they dont fancy a referendum.
UKIP will become big players i reckon.....as for the past Reg i dont think the economy was such a big issue then...Fishing Quotas and the such were higher on the agenda.
Anyone with buisness interests are going to be shit scared of pulling out and i reckon the country would probably vote no to pulling out....just.

[Samdy Gray]

What i cannot fathom is how a country that decimates the world twice in the last hundred odd years can be at the top of the Euro tree dictating(sorry)what every other country has to do.

Really is a mad world.

Because they have one of, if not the strongest economy in the world thanks in no small part to huge growth and industrialisation in the post-war years.

[leefer]

Because they have one of, if not the strongest economy in the world thanks in no small part to huge growth and industrialisation in the post-war years.

That is true Sam.

http://www.econtrader.com/economics/explain/what_are_the_worlds_largest_biggest_economies.htm

Must say Brazil is a bit of a suprise to me in this list.

[Nemo]

Europe is a good idea implemented horribly. If we could be in the EEA and not the EU I'd settle for that, but I suspect it may not be that simple.

Also:

[Samdy Gray]

That list is just national economies ranked in terms of GDP, rather than strength. Japan, for example, is no. 4 in that list but probably one of the weakest performing developed economies for the last 20 years or more.

The German economy is resilient, because of its industrial foundations. Whereas our economy for example, based mostly on services rather than say, manufacturing, is a lot more volatile. At the top of the cycle it's brilliant because our GDP growth will outperform the likes of Germany but on the other hand, it takes a lot longer to recover at the other end of the cycle.

[Honkytonk]

Simple solution here: EU becomes part of Commonwealth. Free trade/travel/visas made easier between all, Queen as sovereign/figurehead. Problems all go away.

'Hums rule Britannia'

[Nemo]

Simple solution here: EU becomes part of Commonwealth. Free trade/travel/visas made easier between all, Queen as sovereign/figurehead. Problems all go away.

'Hums rule Britannia'

I just read that as "Huns rule Britannia", which is probably the title of the UKIP Mainfesto

[herthab]

The main reason that Germany is such a powerful player in Europe is due to the billions the allies pumped into West Germany after WWII. ironic really, isn't it?