[Update] The UK votes to leave the EU

I saw in the Spectator that one idea the Remain campaign has is to offer, in law, a referendum on Turkish accession to the EU should they ever get that far. The UK is going referendum crazy!

[Big Brian]

Originally Posted by GrimUpNorth

Two points:

One of the main aspirations of the SNP is independence and aren't they already mumbling about having another go party based on the mandate inferred by their majority (didn't really want to take this thread to far off course - sure there's a thread for this elsewhere)

I accept (sadly) that manifestos are usually lacking, but using your logic if the stance on Europe was important then more people would/could/should have moved it up their list of priorities when selecting the manifesto that best suited them. We have had choice but the election results show (using your manifesto argument) that our relationship with Europe is well down the electorates list of priorities.

As you know, the government is elected to represent our best interests on a national and international level. We 'trust' them to do the job on our behalf and as such we have voted to stay in Europe every time we've elected a pro-european party.

Now I'm not saying our past actions have been right or wrong, I'm just saying it as I see it. I think many of you would be surprised to know I'm leaning more to out as the days tick by.

Cheers

Grim

Being a Scot living in NE England and an independence man, I fail to see why they would want independence from the UK but not from the EU. Crazy or what. I m a gready sod, I want both.

[GrimUpNorth]

Originally Posted by Chris

The problem with your argument is that you effectively make every general election into a referendum on a single issue (EU membership). If the EU is sufficiently low in people's priorities, e.g. they may not like it, but are prepared to tolerate it for the time being, then it is quite possible for them to vote for a manifesto whose position on the EU is the exact opposite of their own, simply because everything else that manifesto says is more attractive to them.

Or looking at it the other way - the majority of people are happy with the major parties being pro-european (major referring to the number of returned candidates not votes cast). So when the choice on membership is offered every few years the electorate is happy with their European lot. Your argument could easily be applied to any policy in the governing parties manifesto, which kind of negates it as serious.

Cheers

Grim

Originally Posted by GrimUpNorth

Or looking at it the other way - the majority of people are happy with the major parties being pro-european (major referring to the number of returned candidates not votes cast). So when the choice on membership is offered every few years the electorate is happy with their European lot. Your argument could easily be applied to any policy in the governing parties manifesto, which kind of negates it as serious.

Cheers

Grim

No it doesn't. The prominence given to various policies in the manifesto, and the campaign effort made in the weeks prior to an election, tell you which policies are the priority for each party. The way the electorate votes tells you which of the main policy offerings they are attracted to.

Your arguments constantly try to turn electoral reality on its head. The EU has simply not been a high enough priority for voters for you to be able to read anything about it into the results of any past general election.

[Big Brian]

Originally Posted by Chris

No it doesn't. The prominence given to various policies in the manifesto, and the campaign effort made in the weeks prior to an election, tell you which policies are the priority for each party. The way the electorate votes tells you which of the main policy offerings they are attracted to.

Your arguments constantly try to turn electoral reality on its head. The EU has simply not been a high enough priority for voters for you to be able to read anything about it into the results of any past general election.

There is no choice, they're all pro European and have been for about 40 years. Except for UKIP and I voted for them.

[Osem]

Well the EU has kindly agreed to let the UK dispense with the Tampon Tax so I think I'll vote to stay in now...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35834142

Originally Posted by Osem

Well the EU has kindly agreed to let the UK dispense with the Tampon Tax so I think I'll vote to stay in now...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35834142

Looks like Euro-Out Tory MPs were going to rebel on this to help their campaign so I guess it's a quick bit of work to head that off. Of course if it's just a day after the budget you would think Osbourne would have announced this then accompanied with a bit of theatrical flourish. Odd.

[Osem]

I wonder if we're going to see a much needed but extremely short lived* outbreak of common sense within the EU?

* until July.

[Big Brian]

Originally Posted by Osem

I wonder if we're going to see a much needed but extremely short lived* outbreak of common sense within the EU?

* until July.

I have a feeling they may come out with a few little teasers to manipulate a remain vote. Don't be fooled!

[Big Brian]

Is the EU deal with Turkey Legal?

I and others don't think so. You just can't turn back someone seeking asylum. Do we really want to be part of an organisation who doesn't know international law?

Say NO to the EU and avoid an overflow to Britain. They have to go somewhere and Turkey can only take so many!

[richard s]

Hopefully some good person might do a poll for staying in or out on this forum.

I think we might do a couple of opinion polls when we get nearer the date, a bit like we do with general elections.

If we leave will I have to pay out for a new passport..

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

If we leave will I have to pay out for a new passport..

Don't know, socks will defiantly cost you more though

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...linked-EU.html

Originally Posted by Maggy J

If we leave will I have to pay out for a new passport..

Nope. It's a British passport, despite being defaced by Euro-guff, and it was issued by the UK Passport Agency.

However, with any luck, the proper black passport will be phased back in, once we're out of the EU.