EU referendum - Stay or Leave?

[towny44]

The biggest problem with leaving is that all the major players in the Financial Sector will up sticks and move to Germany leaving the City of London together with all the revenue that it presently generates as a fond memory of better times.

Again, a statement of fact that has absolutely no fact.

The City of London isn't one of the worlds major financial institutions because of the EU but actually in spite of it.

You have me there, it wasn't intended to be a fact although it certainly could become one .... is my own personal ' prediction '.

It would not make sense, I simply submit, for the City of London to operate outside of the major revenue stream that resides on its doorstep. Once we are ' out ' the EU will logically crank up legislation to gradually dilute the dominance of the City of London in favour of German Institutions ... there is no other way.

Moby, the UK financial sector is a worldwide institution, some EU states would like to have a bigger slice of the cake but the ROW knows where the expertise resides, and it certainly is not in Frankfurt or Paris.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Ah yes, Paris. The centre of financial prudence. Remind me, weren't the EU supposed to fine them years ago for the size of defecit they were running. And what happened? Oh yes. Nothing.

[Manoverboard]

... the UK financial sector is a worldwide institution, some EU states would like to have a bigger slice of the cake but the ROW knows where the expertise resides, and it certainly is not in Frankfurt or Paris.

Not at the moment but expertise can move and their technology could operate from the Moon, if required, let alone Frankfurt.

[towny44]

... the UK financial sector is a worldwide institution, some EU states would like to have a bigger slice of the cake but the ROW knows where the expertise resides, and it certainly is not in Frankfurt or Paris.

Not at the moment but expertise can move and their technology could operate from the Moon, if required, let alone Frankfurt.

Its all about trust Moby, and despite all the banking problems like Libor, Currency fixing etc, the World finance industry places far more trust in London than anywhere else , and in or out that won't change.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Given the EU's failure to even set a legal budget for itself it's hardly the icon of financial probity.

[Quizzical Bob]

If things do get bad I shall seriously consider moving the business to somewhere more business friendly with less red tape, somewhere like France. And I am being deadly serious.

If British bureaucrats are so bad, do it now Bob. Why wait?

Er... because we are in the EU at the moment?

[lioness]

Definitely hope we leave. If they are considering allowing Turkey and Albania to join, we need to get out now.

[Manoverboard]

Did you know that the Albanian people absolutely idolise(d) Norman Wisdom ?

[qbman1]

Yes .

[kaymar]

I have to say I like Boris' simplified argument in his column in The Telegraph today.

The E.U. of today bears little resemblance to the institution which we joined some 30 years ago. If we vote to stay in, we give the impression that we are happy with all the developments since then, many of which have made life more difficult or over-regulated for us. We simply then roll over and accept continued and increasing interference from Europe in our daily lives.

If we vote to leave, we do not necessarily have to do so but should have a much stronger negotiating position with regard to future proposals with which we do not necessarily agree.

I'm out!

[Mervyn and Trish]

If things do get bad I shall seriously consider moving the business to somewhere more business friendly with less red tape, somewhere like France. And I am being deadly serious.

If British bureaucrats are so bad, do it now Bob. Why wait?

Er... because we are in the EU at the moment?

But you say it's British bureaucrats not the EU that's causing problem for business. So being in or out will make no difference. So go now. Bye bye.

[Quizzical Bob]

If things do get bad I shall seriously consider moving the business to somewhere more business friendly with less red tape, somewhere like France. And I am being deadly serious.

If British bureaucrats are so bad, do it now Bob. Why wait?

Er... because we are in the EU at the moment?

But you say it's British bureaucrats not the EU that's causing problem for business. So being in or out will make no difference. So go now. Bye bye.

Moving your manufacturing business wholesale to another country would depend on much more than the level of bureaucracy in that country. There are a lot of aspects to consider and one of the most important is being able to operate in one big trading market. Being in the Eurozone would also be a big positive influence.

Where do you read about all this red tape, the Daily Mail?

[Silver_Shiney]

QB, if you were to move your business to another country, how many British people would you be putting out of work?

[oldbluefox]

Interestingly there is a letter in The Times signed by 36 FTSE 100 companies in support of remaining in the EU. What happened to the other 64%? Whilst this debate has focused on the implications of trade there is a whole host of other factors which should be attracting our attention, namely the political and social implications of remaining in the EU. We have moved far away from the original Common Market as a trading partnership which is what I voted for. Sadly that concept has been sabotaged by failed politicians (Neil and Glenys Kinnock and their offspring have found refuge there , amongst others) and have driven an agenda which would justify their political ambitions. It's just become another layer of government we can do without.
Back to the trading element. If Britain pulls out of the EU would that mean an end to VW, Fiat, Citroen, Seat motor cars and would brands such as Bosch, Miele etc no longer be seen in our shops? I don't think so somehow. The EU needs us as much, if not more, than we need them and well they know it.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I detect that QB is all flannel and has no intention of moving his business. Just thinks the threat will make us all vote IN. That's pretty much the flavour of the IN campaign.

Funny he's the only person in the country who's not heard small and medium businesses gripe about EU red tape. Perhaps they're like farmers used to be painted. Just like a moan. Perhaps all P&O goldies are businessmen. Would explain a lot

[qbman1]

A load of "poor" Welsh hill farmers were interviewed on't BBC news last night and they were mostly in favour of staying in because of the massive EU subsidies they receive.

[anniec]

Interestingly there is a letter in The Times signed by 36 FTSE 100 companies in support of remaining in the EU. What happened to the other 64%?

From what I've read, at least some of them believe it's a matter for the electorate to decide. Good for them!

[towny44]

Should we start another poll (or book) on what percentage of the population will actually bother to vote, and what the politicians will say if its a low turnout?

[qbman1]

Please no ! More to the point, what percentage of the population will actually understand the implications of what they are voting for ? I suspect many will blindly follow the lead of the Daily Wail, Mirror, Sun or whatever

[Onelife]

Please no ! More to the point, what percentage of the population will actually understand the implications of what they are voting for ? I suspect many will blindly follow the lead of the Daily Wail, Mirror, Sun or whatever

Not a lot l would suspect but if they are willing to follow there hearts and are prepared to rough it for the next ten years then l think we will be in a position to call ourselves 'Great Briton' once more.

[Onelife]

A load of "poor" Welsh hill farmers were interviewed on't BBC news last night and they were mostly in favour of staying in because of the massive EU subsidies they receive.

.....and no doubt influenced by the fact that they sell most of their lamb to Europe.

[Manoverboard]

The way to conduct this referendum is surely to set the switch so that everybody is signed up to staying in .... then those who wish us to leave should go and vote to opt out. With 51% of the vote winning the day

So ....

At the moment we have 200 of the top businesses in favour of staying in plus the majority of MPs, the Chinese and Americans and in favour of leaving we have Boris, Nige and Merv plus a few hangers on like OL.

Job done, deffo

[Mervyn and Trish]

The way to conduct this referendum is surely to set the switch so that everybody is signed up to staying in .... then those who wish us to leave should go and vote to opt out. With 51% of the vote winning the day

So ....

At the moment we have 200 of the top businessesin favour of staying in plus the majority of MPs, the Chinese and Americans and in favour of leaving we have Boris, Nige and Merv plus a few hangers on like OL.

Job done, deffo

Does that include QB?

But I wouldn't get too complacent Moby. Some businesses may be in but there is a lot of anger in the country. Instead of doom mongering and attacking the OUT campaign Mr C would do better to try to sell the benefits of being IN, if he can find any.

[qbman1]

The way to conduct this referendum is surely to set the switch so that everybody is signed up to staying in .... then those who wish us to leave should go and vote to opt out. With 51% of the vote winning the day

So ....

At the moment we have 200 of the top businessesin favour of staying in plus the majority of MPs, the Chinese and Americans and in favour of leaving we have Boris, Nige and Merv plus a few hangers on like OL.

Job done, deffo

Does that include QB?

But I wouldn't get too complacent Moby. Some businesses may be in but there is a lot of anger in the country. Instead of doom mongering and attacking the OUT campaign Mr C would do better to try to sellthe benefits of being IN, if he can find any.

Well, there's......Hmmm, and there's......

OK, maybe you're right - time to jump !!

[Mervyn and Trish]

The daft thing is Cubie I started off as an OUT open to persuasion. But Call-Me-Dave's pathetic renegotiation and subsequent negative and bullying campaigning has hardened my attitude. Take an awful lot to persuade me now.