Re: EU demand extra £1.7bn from UK
 

There, corrected for you.;)

Re: EU demand extra £1.7bn from UK
 

If you look at most of the people who represent UKIP you will find that many of their views are extremely prejudiced and they also have many links to extreme domestic and foreign right wing parties and although you might find one or two good apples among them sadly they are in the small minority compared to the many prejudiced views of most of their party and sadly parts of the public as well.

Re: EU demand extra £1.7bn from UK
 

Where does this Little England excrement come from?

We are the 6th largest economy in the world, and at a similar level in terms of international trade.

What was left of our 'influence' in the EU will be largely destroyed when QMV kicks in on a number of additional policy areas in a little over a week.

Do you seriously think those EU countries that are net recipients of EU cash could care less about the UK's position on issues? They want their development and solidarity money and vote accordingly in their own national interest.

I find the 'Little England' argument pretty insulting. I entirely see the argument for a free trade bloc in Europe, that makes perfect sense. There is absolutely no argument for the EU as it stands and, in case you hadn't already noticed, all the treaties are geared towards ever increasing integration. There is no negotiation to be had on this point; the constitution of Europe AKA the Lisbon Treaty that Gordon Brown signed in a back room as he was too ashamed of his deception is very clear. The only path as it stands right now to reverse this is to leave.

Pretty ironic that Little Iceland, population less than 330,000, has a free trade agreement with China and the USA.

It seems very clear to me that the UK's influence in the world as a whole, you know that other 7 billion people that aren't a part of the EU, is dramatically diminished by our being inside the EU. The EU is the one trading group whose share of wealth in the world is dropping.

If you want us to tie a Euro-shaped anchor around our necks and jump that's your prerogative. I personally would like the UK population to be presented with the facts and the alternatives rather than being accused of being Little Englanders and bigots then be allowed to make their minds up in a free and fair referendum. Free and fair as in absolutely no EU intrusion, which would be a substantial contrast to the tactics employed in the second Irish referendum on Lisbon after they gave the wrong answer first time around.

Re: EU demand extra £1.7bn from UK
 

Hollande is desperate for more EU cash for France, and his opponents have admitted it (which he won't). So don't expect any support from him.

Re: EU demand extra £1.7bn from UK
 

I would say that describing the UK as 'Little England' and asserting that the 6th largest economy in the world and the Eurozone's largest trading partner would be bereft of influence if it weren't part of the EU is pretty prejudiced as well.

Re: EU demand extra £1.7bn from UK
 

It's nice being on the 'inside' without any discernible real influence :dozey:

Re: EU demand extra £1.7bn from UK
 

not so -its our cheque book their using that means something :)

Re: EU demand extra £1.7bn from UK
 

typical Krauts, A German MEP when asked if it made sense to be asking money from Cyprus and Greece whilst Germany gets a rebate, said "the rules are the rules"

spoken like a true concentration camp guard.

Re: EU demand extra £1.7bn from UK
 

Yep, it means that we're the mugs :(

Re: EU demand extra £1.7bn from UK
 

And when we stop writing them then they'll come to heel. Nothing else will work. The trading group that really counts these days is BRICKS.

As pointed out we're the sixth biggest world economy and also a member of the UN security committe of five nuclear powers and a leading country in NATO. The EU count for nothing here having muffed the Ukraine issue.

Re: EU demand extra £1.7bn from UK
 

Having known Dave for a while now. I'd say that he'll pay it but give a stern speech to the Great British People (previously Hard Working People) about responsibilities and all that. but he'll say something about rest assured if you vote him back in he'll be more assertive when they come back for more.

Re: EU demand extra £1.7bn from UK
 

On a rare occasion I find myself in agreement with you. :tu:

But assertive is not a verb that Dave is familiar with. :(

Re: EU demand extra £1.7bn from UK
 

Why is Cameron even the slightest bit surprised by this ,after all Eurostat are only using figures that HMG provide .It should also be noted that HMG have made quite a few changes in the last few years as to how they work out how the economy is doing ,they have included a lot of things they should have been including for years ,in other words Cameron has been bigging up the UK economy and now it's bit him right up the ass.

You could liken this to someone over stating there taxable allowances on their return and finally getting caught out

Re: EU demand extra £1.7bn from UK
 

I'll let Dan Hannan, someone I will freely mention I don't agree with on a number of things, give a more erudite and complete answer to this than my earlier post.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/ar...inside-eu.html

I would strongly suggest you read it and perhaps try countering those points rather than simply describing us as Little England and, without supplying any background, claiming that we would be much worse off in the long run than we are tied to this customs union.

Re: EU demand extra £1.7bn from UK
 

Really?? WW2 ended nearly 70 years ago - let it go. ;)

Considering the British invented the concentration camp, quite ironic.