All this is well and good for small enterprises but what about massive operations such as the motor industry. Example - Mitsubishi Motors; Cars and parts are imported to Europe via the EU headquarters in The Netherlands. They will never touch Dutch soil but it is all managed through there. European profits are largely paid there. The UK HQ is nothing more than a distribution centre. So moving on and depending upon the way that post Brexit things such as trade agreements pan out (which is still unknown) will the UK HQ become the UK only importer paying a higher rate of corporation tax. Make no mistake if that is the case the cost will be passed on to the customer. UK car manufacturing; The cars may be assembled in the UK but almost all the essential parts that make it work are manufactured by a handful of European suppliers such as Bosch. So even cars manufactured and sold here could become more expensive to sell and repair. UK based importers; Will there be any point in remaining in the UK when you have just become isolated from the free trade bloc? All the above points are based upon unknowns because that is precisely what they will remain until the UK exit is negotiated after the vote (if it goes that way).
I really don't see much difference in the situation as big companies will always wangle their situation to suit their bottom line. I'm not sure that the prices will go up (that's why I'm still trying to get some coherent information from both sides of the argument) even if we exit. The other countries need our trade as well, or more than, we need theirs. If we vote to exit then we shall have at least (that's the legal minimum) two years to negotiate individual trade deals. If we're a sufficiently lucrative market for other countries then those countries will try and come to a mutual agreement.
Spot on! Their needs, not the needs of the UK. Here we differ. The UK only amounts to about 15% of the EU GDP. So we potentially stand to lose unrestricted access to 85% of that economy whilst 27 other countries (although only really a handful of major players) stand to lose unrestricted access to just 15% between them. However, the reality is harsher as we import more from Europe than we export to Europe. Yes. But what form will they take. Will the main players unite and consider it worth marginalising us? If no deal is negotiated are we on our own? This is the unknown that we are voting for. But are we really that lucrative. My fear is that we are actually dependent, at the very least as far as what major manufacturing industry that we do have.
Europe as we know it is finished . Theyve just lowered interest rates again in a desperate attempt to stimulate the Euro economy. Negative interest rates and a rapidly rising social welfare bill will cripple their economies. There will be other members who will want to break free to save themselves or risk going down with the ship.If Britain goes others will follow.
I partially agree but, there again, it's the matter of statistics. If the EU were one country then the figures are more correct but we mainly deal with a lesser number of those countries. For some of those we are a major purchaser and they wouldn't want to alienate us so much that we buy from elsewhere. The Commonwealth are just waiting to deal with us more fully. I'm sure they have/would consider marginalising us and the rumours that I've heard (through the ICC - International Chamber of Commerce) are that they wouldn't want to do it. Although I deplore the loss of manufacturing in this country it doesn't detract from us being a very worthwhile trading partner. We're still back to not knowing enough to make a considered judgement on the In/Out subject. There have been many highly vocal opinions on both sides from very respectable people but we're still no clearer than before. There's a big danger to the EU that, if we pull out, it will cause a slow cascade of problems for the EU members. Greece is already being hit from two sides - their economic frailty caused by ridiculous policies and, now, the migrant crisis on their doorstep. Other members are also considering (not quite a seriously as us) on pulling out. If we do pull out and are hit with punitive trade policies it may start the cascade and the other countries are very wary of that happening. Unfortunately, they're trying to put the frighteners on us which I think is causing a negative reaction. This is exacerbating the situation and making people more inclined to vote with their hearts than their heads. I'm still uncomfortable on this fence P.S. Some of you may find it interesting to read Mervyn King's latest book - The End of Alchemy.
So much for the wonderful news about the EU reducing mobile roaming charges in Europe, this is what Giffgaff has just done: They've put up the cost of UK PAYG calls by 50%, and reduced calls made anywhere in the EU by 6% in order to harmonise their rates.
That fence will be creaking under our weight shiney as just about everybody I know is of the same opinion of "don't know, not had enough unbiased information to make a judgement".
I read BBC online news, The Guardian online and The Telegraph online every day, plus one of the following (for a bit of a laugh) http://www.theonion.com/ http://www.thespoof.com/ or The Express online. I'm increasingly of the opinion that my vote will not be for the best option, but for the least worst option.
Tony Blair, remember him? The chap that took us to an unjustified war? The chap that sold our country without asking us first? he's in the news today. Saying we should 'lead from inside Europe'. Yes, because he's been right with everything else so far and had never blatantly lied ever. Besides my cynicism, DC has already shown us how much leading we can do in Europe. He went in with some requests for fairly simple but fair changes, and pretty much got his bottom spanked.
Is it possible for any single member state to 'lead' the EU? And if so, why would it be a good thing for any single member state to be able to 'lead' the other 27 (including the UK)? For a very long time, I've adopted the reasoning that before you impose principles on others, you should check out how you'd feel if the same was applied to you, only common sense really. A truly nutty suggestion (from TB).
The EU is basically a committee. And a Committee never gets anything done properly, there are too many differing views. Add the fact that there are very large differences between the countries, regarding interests and financial situation, and you can see why its mostly just a talking shop that eventually imposes its ideas on those concerned. As to a single member leading the EU, we all know that wont work. As two are doing it already.
Some easy reading for those in the UK with their heads still buried in the Euro sand http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/651868/swedish-village-gripped-migrant-fear-asylum-seeker
The express is the paper that every October without fail predicts the imminent Arctic Blast of annihilation, or Siberian Cold Front of Certain Death or similar. It is the paper that at leather once a week tells of the Dianna assassination conspiracy, while every now and then running an article slagging off other media outlets for reporting on Dianna and not allowing her to rest in peace. It is the paper that will give front page space to the one nutcase that happens to claim to be Muslim, while ignoring all the non nutcase Muslims and totally nutcase non Muslims. I'm sure there are other more objective news sources that tell the story. Referencing the express is to be honest less credible than Referencing the Sunday sport, Viz or beano.
I totaly agree with you regarding the express. A useless "news"paper indeed. I havent bought any newspaper for about 5 years as all are poor quality, advert filled ,gossipy, dumbed down,and their "news" is old. This story is real however and is just the tip of the iceberg. Did you know Norway is now making contingency plans for the collapse of Sweden ? So Im guessing they are kind of taking the situation seriously.
The eu is currently on it's back, holding its hands up in a last ditch attempt to defend its face. It's sad. It's knackered. We don't need the express to tell us this. None of this is a good thing. It's nothing to get excited about. From our perspective, the question had to be, do we help prop up something that is fundamentally broken, or do we turn our back, full of sorrow, and look forward? Truth is I for one don't yet know. Seems to me were still in the thick of it. It's impossible to decide yet what will be best.
