Is it time for the UK to leave the EU (UK only Please)

[ShadesWolf]

After LAbours latest surrender to Federal Europe please have your say. UK only on this thread for voting. (I will create an EU - not UK thread also)

[ShadesWolf]

I as you all expect have voted YES. Its time for us to leave and go it alone.

[Prodigal]

I'm British, but have been living in Spain for about 10 years, I've seen the benefits that Spain has reaped from being a part of it, but I really can't think of what the UK actually gains, other than having in a small say in the direction the EU takes

[Ianofsmeg16]

We should leave....we're not european, we're british

[Geoffrey S]

We should leave....we're not european, we're british

The two aren't mutually exclusive, y'know.

[Ianofsmeg16]

You speak a different language, your foreign...no more EU!!

p.s. I'm joking I'm all for germany, the netherlands, even belgium!

[Sjakihata]

As a European I do hope Britain leaves. Britain is not helping the EU, only causing problems. And it is costly for the rest of the EU languages. So please leave Britain, thank you

[Marcellus]

As a European I do hope Britain leaves. Britain is not helping the EU, only causing problems. And it is costly for the rest of the EU languages. So please leave Britain, thank you

We're not helping the EU? Odd, last time I checked, we were actually paying several billion Euros into it every year. Edit: For clarity. that's the net, not total contribution

I feel European as well as British, and hope that we stay in the EU. Edit: However, it does need to be reformed to be simpler and more modern.

[Ldvs]

We're not helping the EU? Odd, last time I checked, we were actually paying several billion Euros into it every year.

There lies the problem. When you're only reasoning in terms of financial contribution, the rest of the EU is not.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Hah, so the French don't care about money? Why is it that you refuse to even negotiate over the CAP then? I'm sorry, but that's rubbish.

While I do believe the EU is workable, and a desirable thing, there does need to be a serious restructuring of the payment system. Refusing to sit there and get completely shafted isn't selfish, it's just prudent.

[Ldvs]

Hah, so the French don't care about money? Why is it that you refuse to even negotiate over the CAP then? I'm sorry, but that's rubbish.

As explained numerous times, it's not all the French who are supporting the current form of the CAP, it's Chirac and his most loyal electoral base: the farmers. I, for one, certainly find it atrociously out of date and unfair in its distribution.
And no, I don't care about the UK's money. I'd much prefer it to leave and pay more.

[Kralizec]

Hah, so the French don't care about money? Why is it that you refuse to even negotiate over the CAP then? I'm sorry, but that's rubbish.

While I do believe the EU is workable, and a desirable thing, there does need to be a serious restructuring of the payment system. Refusing to sit there and get completely shafted isn't selfish, it's just prudent.

I agree entirely

[Marcellus]

There lies the problem. When you're only reasoning in terms of financial contribution, the rest of the EU is not.

So what was this latest budget row about if it wasn't about money?

[Mongoose]

%^*&^&^$&$^$&!!!!!! I voted too fast. Subtract one vote form the "Yes" option

But yes, i do think that the U.K should leave the E.U. Whats the point of joining a group that mostly just takes your money and gives it to the other members?

[A.Saturnus]

So what was this latest budget row about if it wasn't about money?

It´s about the fact that Great Britain pays less money than other members relative to their economy. This is known as the "British rebate". Other members find that a bit unfair, but GB doesn´t understand why.

[Monarch]

There lies the problem. When you're only reasoning in terms of financial contribution, the rest of the EU is not.

Your saying nations such as the new Eastern european members (if you ask them why they joined, an honest person would probably say something along the lines of a better economy, or because we can earn more money. It's not just the money we pay, but alot of europeans work in britain because the quality of living is much better and pay is much better) and even the French do not care about British fiancial contribution? The union is all about trade, economies and very basically MONEY. I mean really, nations are just bound together because it's nice to get together and be happy bunnies?

I think we should stay in, but only even the amount everyone pays in is balanced.

[English assassin]

As much as I agree with you there, you're aiming at the wrong person. Chirac didn't get here by happenstance, although corruption did help. You should rather blame our political class's hypocrisy and dishonesty plaguing the political sphere since time immemorial. But don't forget that, first and foremost, it's stupid and short-sighted people who got him elected, may it be directly or indirectly.
And if everything goes wrong like it seems to be, the next president will be even worse. I give you a hint, it's a xenophobic, propagandist and fascist person who has sickening lust for power (N...... S......).

Well its nice that we are agreeing but its not making me feel much better about the EU. Maybe Merkel will save us, if she has any spare time after saving herself.

[Ldvs]

Your saying nations such as the new Eastern european members

Where's the end of the phrase, please?

It's not just the money we pay, but alot of europeans work in britain because the quality of living is much better and pay is much better

Of course... I reckon you're not taking into account the lower third of your population, nor your poor health care system, nor your public school system, nor the precariousness of the majority of the jobs (it's not much better in France admittedly), nor...

and even the French do not care about British fiancial contribution?

Considering France is a net contributor, our farmers would get those subsidies whether we were in the EU or not. And for your information, I don't support the CAP.

The union is all about trade, economies and very basically MONEY

Is a Constitution all about money? I guess not.

I mean really, nations are just bound together because it's nice to get together and be happy bunnies?

While I won't be as optimistic, you cannot deny the fact that the countries who join (especially the smaller ones) are given extra weight on the international scene. I daresay they also prefer to be in the EU's sphere rather than in the USSR's.

[Red Peasant]

We're not helping the EU? Odd, last time I checked, we were actually paying several billion Euros into it every year. Edit: For clarity. that's the net, not total contribution

I feel European as well as British, and hope that we stay in the EU. Edit: However, it does need to be reformed to be simpler and more modern.

The UK is the second largest NET contributor (i.e. even after the rebate) to the EU and nearly always has been as far as I know, so it really annoys me when nationals from certain countries (who have only ever taken from the pot) start pontificating about Britain this and Britain that.

Britain has invested a hell of a lot of money developing these economies and we need to stay around to make sure we reap any economic benefits, and we won't do that from the outside.

[Prodigal]

As a European I do hope Britain leaves. Britain is not helping the EU, only causing problems. And it is costly for the rest of the EU languages. So please leave Britain, thank you

EU languages mi culo, anyone miss the UK ONLY bit?

[Xiahou]

EU languages mi culo, anyone miss the UK ONLY bit?

Too late now, but he probably should've made the poll votes public- so you could see who wasnt following directions. I'm not from the UK, so I didnt vote- but if I were, I'd say leave.

As an American, I don't really care too much about it- so long as they don't try to shove any of that 'savings tax directive' crap down our throats....

[lancelot]

As a European I do hope Britain leaves. Britain is not helping the EU, only causing problems. And it is costly for the rest of the EU languages. So please leave Britain, thank you

What a load of rubbish!

Britain pays a fortune to subsidise French! farmers so they can sell their goods back to us at an inflated price and we dont contribute???

[Louis VI the Fat]

What a load of rubbish!

Britain pays a fortune to subsidise French! farmers

No you don't.

France is a net contributor to the EU, so common logic dictates that nobody subsidizes France. French farmers are subsidized by no-one but the French themselves.

France receives 22% of CAP funds and represents 17% of arable land in the EU.

So yes, France receives more than her fair share in CAP funds. Leaving an oft forgotten, 'neglectible' 78% of EU farming subsidies to 83% of non-French farm land.

Not fair, perhaps, but let's not lose a sense of proportion. The EU budget represents 1% of the EU's GDP, the CAP constitutes 40% of that, France's extra helping 5% of that.
Just why this 5% of 40% of 1% has become such an obsession abroad is a bit beyond me.

[Ldvs]

Just why this 5% of 40% of 1% has become such an obsession abroad is a bit beyond me.

Because it's symbolic, just like the rebate is.

[Red Peasant]

No you don't.

France is a net contributor to the EU, so common logic dictates that nobody subsidizes France. French farmers are subsidized by no-one but the French themselves.

France receives 22% of CAP funds and represents 17% of arable land in the EU.

So yes, France receives more than her fair share in CAP funds. Leaving an oft forgotten, 'neglectible' 78% of EU farming subsidies to 83% of non-French farm land.

Not fair, perhaps, but let's not lose a sense of proportion. The EU budget represents 1% of the EU's GDP, the CAP constitutes 40% of that, France's extra helping 5% of that.
Just why this 5% of 40% of 1% has become such an obsession abroad is a bit beyond me.

So, being so insignificant...why such an obsession to keep the high French subsidies? Non, Non, Non, and forever Non! I'm sure that if all of the other net contributors to the EU budget stopped paying in, then the French would find it impossible in the long run to pamper their farmers with such largesse from their own coffers. Or, if they did, it would be highly damaging to the rest of the economy.