[thewayneinspain]

ronseal

[Chris]

Yes Ronseal is made in the UK

[JanW]

If I read it correctly we will be given the option to stay or withdraw only if Cameron and Co. are re-elected and after they have renegotiated our terms with Europe. A promise full of 'ifs' and 'buts'.

[zinger]

As I remember it, the electorate voted for a Common Market. Both Labour & Conservative governments tried repeatedly to get us in, selling it to us as a really good idea. As is usual, that was a mistake. The thin end of the wedge was inserted & from thereon on it widened. More & more rules were applied (remember the butter mountains, brussel sprouts etc) until our sovereignty was threatened. Where other countries joined together & ended in bloodshed Europe decided to suck in as many as they could. Whilst it's fine to be good friends with your neighbours I don't think that you should share everything with them. When we can't rid our country of murderers without their permission I think that it is time to back away.

[Sam]

Wow, the internet is absolutely full of if's & but's about this topic. A lot of it seems to be dross filling up a servers hard drive somewhere.

The interesting stuff that matters seems to be about free trade and where it would leave us long term?

There seems to be a lot of short sightedness on this subject.

So to add to the the initial question, in or out. Why and the long term consequences ?

My initial findings seem to point to Norway & Switzerlands route, but thats only a first impression.

[thewayneinspain]

For me it's in, but understand that the majority of Britain doesn't feel that way.

The Norway solution is probably the best I can hope for, but will look to getting dual nationality with another eu country before gb leaves. The Scottish & the Catalonian secession referendums will determine which one.

On the whole the Cameron speech today is okay. But he must stop dithering and organise the referendum for the same time as the European elections next year. It's very bad for the economy.

[NJones]

To quote a tweet:
‏@Charles_HRH Text from Mr Cameron: "I can't live, if living is without EU"

[Sam]

Having read a little into it now. Why not add a third option of renegotiate ?

Surely this is the best allround, depending on the terms etc.

[david1ten]

Said in 1984 it was a bad idea, and been saying it ever since, lets just dump them, and use the money for our own people. This also goes for all the foreign aid that Cameron & Co send out.

[thewayneinspain]

Originally Posted by david1ten

Said in 1984 it was a bad idea, and been saying it ever since, lets just dump them, and use the money for our own people. This also goes for all the foreign aid that Cameron & Co send out.

the uk pays 8.9 billion a year to the eu. The figure quoted last night on newsnight: was gb business gets 158bln from the eu every year. The vat on that alone could be anything up to 30 billion, never mind company tax or wages income tax and ni.

I'm sure i read a few weeks ago that wales receives almost double what it pays to the eu via london. will put that up later.