I thought it was a good debate - got nowhere, but I enjoyed it. I didn't enjoy the personal attacks on Boris (I don't allow personal attacks when I'm chairing debates ) but he totally ignored them . They don't need to try and make him look silly as he's quite good at doing that all on his own. Andrea Leadsom, Energy Minister and Labour MP Gisela Stuart. I agree that they put forward a more concerted argument than the Remain people. Remain concentrated more on jobs and people's rights but didn't put appear to have agreed on how they would put their arguments. Leave seemed to work together more and concentrated on immigration. My opinion on the effect of the debate is that it depends on the demographic of who was watching. If they have as a priority jobs and rights they will come down on the 'In' side and if the have as a priority immigration and that effect on jobs, housing and the NHS then they'll come down on the 'Out' side. On a different topic. When, last year, the oil prices plummeted the government and pundits were declaiming how wonderful it was for the world economy with fuel and energy costs going down. I said, on here, that it will only be good if it last's just a very few months. Otherwise it would be quite bad. Well, it's now showing to be not so good. For example, Venezuela and Nigeria are in total meltdown (probably meaning more illegal economic migrants for our authorities to deal with) and Argentina heading that way. The major oil producing countries are in a lot of difficulty and turning to other things - mainly trying to buy our, and other country's businesses. This is going to cause a lot of chaos through the economic and political markets.
I'm not so sure that the UK could ever lead the EU - our national attitude seems to be to look down on all foreigners as being inferior which is one of the reasons that the British are disliked abroad. However, the elected governments of this country do seem to be closer aligned to Europe than the outers would have you believe............... http://ukandeu.ac.uk/explainers/is-the-uk-marginalised-in-the-eu-2/ Tariffs are coming. Do not overestimate the importance of the UK market. This is a golden opportunity for Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris to become the financial powerhouses to replace London. And a question for the vote leavers - are you going to be happy with the likes of Murdoch, Tescos and BP filling the "power" vacuum left by the EU at the heart of British government? Don't kid yourselves that we will regain our sovereignty as that will not happen. One thing that the EU has been good for is keeping the power of the super rich in check a bit.
If all this is true, how can we vote to stay in? So we cant influence. So that means we're effectively in a dictatorship. And if Britons are disliked abroad, and abroad rules us, what chance have we of a happy future in those circumstances?
I have travelled far and wide and have never found the British disliked anywhere in the world,and the majority of the British don't look down on foreigners,its just that our confidence and self belief ,can appear at times a little arrogant,it is only woo's personal opinion of course,we are special,with our compassion.understanding of other's way of life and our willingness to help in world disaster's,charities,and helping each other,looking after the underdog ,and all those less fortunate than ourselves,and our determined way of seeking justice until we find it I am so proud to be British ,I am sure I have red,white,and blue running through me like a stick of rock I make no apologies for this post its how I feel,I'll get off my soapbox now
Maybe - but the EU like the 10.6 billion we pump into their coffers each year. Of course France, Germany etc are bound to be critical - many of the newer member countries are taking out more than they're putting in. It's the old old story, in the end it comes down to money. I saw the ITV debate - no matter what you think of Boris - he came over with some convincing arguments. He didn't rise to the personal comments from the remain bod's - just stuck to the facts. The in campaign bleating on about less tax generation due to falling trade - well guess what - we won't need to generate as much tax if we control the borders - stop economic migrants taking the rip out of the welfare system. I'm still out.
I do remember the UK in the 70's and it was pretty grim .We have been in the EU for 43 years , and all in all we are doing pretty well out of it . Don't take my word for this but , quoting Paddy Ashdown on TV this morning , every financial institution in the world says we are better off remaining in . So why on earth change , why. Also Britons are not disliked abroad , I have traveled and worked in Europe for over 30 years , and they quite like us "Island Monkeys" or "Roast Beefs".
Regarding Britons not be liked abroad. I think that comes down to what country you happen to be in at the time, ie. dont think N. Korea like us much. But there is the point, there are loads of countries out there, not just Europe, and lets face it, there aren't many affluent countries in the EU, and the ones they want to let in, in the future, are all going to be takers out, rather than putters in. I also dont think our "affluence" the last 43yrs,( for want of a better word), has anything to do with the EU, its mostly down to getting rid of the power the unions had over the country back in the 70s. Look at France, where the unions are strong, too strong, they strike at the drop of a beret, just because they can. Oh, and I think France are still in the EU, although most of the time they dont actually abide by the rules if it doesn't suit them. Good for them, I say. But would we get away with using the same attitude? I doubt it. As for looking down on foreigners, I dont think we do, we just dont want quite so many here.
But I don't represent any financial institution. I don't know anyone that does. If I was throwing around millions of pounds per day gambling peasants savings, and making multi million pounds for myself in the process, very likely I'd want to maintain the status quo. But as it stands, for me personally, the status quo doesn't make me happy. I eek out a meagre living, driving a really crap car to get me to my modest job in a small company which, incidentally, is in an industry sector that is already struggling to adapt to the latest regulation change. But then is it all about money? If someone handed you a gun, put a Syrian child in front of you, and offered you money to shoot them, or a financial penalty if you refused, would you do it? The eu is doing a deal with turkey that independent observers have reported that has already resulted in unaccompanied children being posted straight back into the war zone they'd somehow, miraculously escaped from. Politics and economics aside, I can't vote to support that.
I'm still not 100% decided. I naturally err on the side of better the devil you know. I think the sovereignty argument is a strong one, and will appeal to many. However, I'm not convinced that it's all it's cracked up to be. Would we be able to control our borders, really? To me, the economy is all, when it comes to national interests. I find it rather laughable when the 'outers' say that the money saved 'could' be used to fund the NHS. Yes, maybe it could, but that's a long way from saying it would. To my mind, the money saved could well be used to help pay for the possible extra unemployment caused by being 'out'.
