Guardian: Welsh town showered with EU cash votes to Leave the EU
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If the stay platform would have been built over 'we're going to make a far better deal with EU' and then withing 24 hours Cameron would have backtracked saying 'lolz, that was just for votes, we will have the same deal instead', then those right wing cnuts would have been right on asking for an another referendum.I wonder what most of the left-wingers would have thought if this discussion was raised by the mostly righ-wing 'leave' guys if the tables was turned and they lost the vote.
"oh, lolzies, look at the right-wing cnuts showing their true fascist colours, willing to throw democracy overboard since they didn't get their will".
You are not understanding that, by ruthless bargaining of our own, we do not have to accept levy's imposed on us, or otherwise projects worth trillions will be at risk causing massive financial implications.Why would they tear them up just because we have left the EU? Of course they won't. What they clearly will do is make it more expensive for you to import into the EU.
If the EU was that responsive to the needs of the businesses working within it, many of its regulations and rules would not look as they do. You are talking about a negotiation that will be extensive, cover many areas, and needs to be agreed on by many people who wouldn't know the first thing about running a business. Indeed, many members of the European Parliament are anti-business and think 'anglo-saxon capitalism' is some kind of dirty word.
The UK will not be dealing with people thinking about the most rational economic outcome. It will be dealing with a Commission, a European Council, and a European Parliament, many of whom believe in 'ever closer Europe' and 'the European Project.' Don't expect that, simply because you approach it in a business minded way, the politicians and bureaucrats of the EU will do likewise.
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It's almost too silly
He wasn't the reason that London is as big a player as it is in the finance world. More the other way around, he was picked due to London being as big as it is and it looks like his replacement will be a Brit as well.We do. Indeed the European Commissioner for Financial Services was a Brit until he resigned today.
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Ah, that's quite a bit more explicit than what I'd seen. I take it back. They evidently have lied about many things. Politics...gotta love it.Leaving aside the provable lie that is the figure, there's a very thin line between misleading and lying in this instance. They've worded it about as closely as they can to a commitment without making it an explicit commitment.
It was on the french TV, a guy said that Wales were now strong enough to leave the EU because they had plenty of jobs. Jobs who happen to be financed by the EU.
It doesn't work that way.Why would they tear them up just because we have left the EU? Of course they won't. What they clearly will do is make it more expensive for you to import into the EU.
If the EU was that responsive to the needs of the businesses working within it, many of its regulations and rules would not look as they do. You are talking about a negotiation that will be extensive, cover many areas, and needs to be agreed on by many people who wouldn't know the first thing about running a business. Indeed, many members of the European Parliament are anti-business and think 'anglo-saxon capitalism' is some kind of dirty word.
The UK will not be dealing with people thinking about the most rational economic outcome. It will be dealing with a Commission, a European Council, and a European Parliament, many staffed with many who believe in 'ever closer Europe' and 'the European Project.' Don't expect that, simply because you approach it in a business minded way, the politicians and bureaucrats of the EU will do likewise.
Exactly - London is the financial capital so it makes sense for the UK to head up EU financial regulation. We won't be involved in regulation once we leave the EU so the rules will gradually change against London's interest. Banking and financial service firms may then leave.He wasn't the reason that London is as big a player as it is in the finance world. More the other way around, he was picked due to London being as big as it is and it looks like his replacement will be a Brit as well.
Probably the best post in this thread.I've only read a couple of pages of this thread but can see the obvious strong majority remain support so thought I'd try and explain why I voted leave whilst simultaneously not being a xenophobic moron.
Sorry to begin slightly narcissisticly but a bit about me. I have a degree in law, I live in London, I'm 32 with 2 young kids, I'm Irish but have lived in England most of my life, I'm the son of immigrants, I'm reasonably off but not rich by any means. Not the typical leave voter being portrayed at present it's fair to say.
This is why I voted leave in the context of the major areas of argument:
- Immigration: I simply can't get my head around people's arguments on immigration, to be honest. I have voted leave because I believe in a fair policy that allows everyone, regardless of nationality, a fair crack at coming here. We desperately need immigration, but the point is we can choose to follow a policy which can be tailored to our needs as a country. Yes, some closet racists voted because they think 'them foreigners' will stop coming but thankfully they're utterly wrong. As a side issue to this, why did the UK not take anywhere near as many Syrian refugees as other major nations? Simply because the government had to be seen to be 'tough on immigration' when really they would have been the right people to help. I'm aware that there is every possibility we'll now enter the EEA but at least the possibility of a better system now exists.
The Economy - I'll be brief on this. The time since the result became clear has for me been a microcosm of what will ultimately happen. Short term panic and instability, followed by the underlying strength in the economy leading to recovery (the pound and FTSE have already recovered much of the ground lost initially but everyone in the remain camp keeps referring the 'worst since 1985' stat). The UK is the world's 5th largest economy, the ripple effects shown worldwide show just how much influence the country has. The isolation scaremongering simply won't happen (and again we may end up in the EEA).
Sovereignty - This is what my absolute key issue is. It's an argument that had been made and never answered satisfactorily for me. The government of the day MUST be able to make the decisions that are best for the people they govern. It's the purpose of government! I'm not saying that no decisions made by the European Commission or Council have been correct/needed. I'm not saying the UK hadn't agreed to many of the measures. However, if I and others fundamentally disagreed with an EU edict then we can do ZERO about either changing it or even influencing the decision-making process.
The EU has been so dogmatic about reform for many years and the reason for this is that it is unable to change due to the enormous consensus required for it to happen! 28 countries have to unanimously or by large majority agree (depending on the decision). The variety of vested interests inevitably results in the status quo being maintained and the institutions therefore have to wait for everyone to 'catch up' before anything can change.
The next few years will undoubtedly see massive upheaval but I genuinely believe that what will emerge will be a happier, more prosperous nation that will be a force for good. I was very torn because I see loads of good things about the EU but I'm happy with the choice made and I do believe we'll still be far more 'in' than many remainers currently believe.
Really interested to hear everyone's thoughts.
What does that mean to a European MEP who only cares about a federal Europe?It doesn't work that way.
What if the extra expense led to the ruin of companies already committed?
Nothing like this has ever occurred before, which is why we cannot suddenly be treated like outcasts. The pressure on the EU from countries reliant on British sales/services would be so eminence, it would be devastating to so many European companies.
We're fecked.It was on the french TV, a guy said that Wales were now strong enough to leave the EU because they had plenty of jobs. Jobs who happen to be financed by the EU.
Can't you see that this is precisely the reason we need to quit the EU?What does that mean to a European MEP who only cares about a federal Europe?
As I said before, you are treating this like a rational economic negotiation. It isn't. Even if everyone in the Commission accepted your argument, and even if you got the deal through the European Council via qualified majority voting through the double majority procedure, you have to convince at least half the European Parliament to accept the terms of the deal. How many European MEPs do you think know anything about business, or will care about your warnings about how companies will collapse? Many of them are the type of socialists we haven't had in Britain, ever.
There are countless examples of companies being hurt financially by new and unexpected government/ trade regulation. Part of the skill in managing a multinational business is trying to predict future legislative changes... that's why businesses typically want stability, because regulatory change can be costly.It doesn't work that way.
What if the extra expense led to the ruin of companies already committed?
Nothing like this has ever occurred before, which is why we cannot suddenly be treated like outcasts. The pressure on the EU from countries reliant on British sales/services would be so eminence, it would be devastating to so many European companies.
People seem more interested in Damon, who I've seen quoted at least five times in this thread, than the fact Gove and Boris have suddenly gone silent and look like they are shitting themselves.Explain?
On the contrary, the fact we were in it meant the British commissioners and staff working in the EU could counter balance some of the madness.Can't you see that this is precisely the reason we need to quit the EU?
We should quit the EU cos MEPs know little about business? By that logic we might as well dissolve parliament then.Can't you see that this is precisely the reason we need to quit the EU?
My God, I can't believe you can say things like this, and still want to be associated with such an organization.On the contrary, the fact we were in it meant the British commissioners and staff working in the EU could counter balance some of the madness.
A big part of what we have done while in the EU is protect British businesses by working to stop, or undermine, insane ideas.
Now we're out, now we can't influence what the EU wants to do, the EU will veer off into a direction that will be even worse for us than before. Worse, we have to now negotiate with these people over some kind of new deal.
I agree of course. There again pride, nationalism and recession tend to be an explosive mix especially in the old continent. Under such circumstances, it would be wise that on one hand we cover our arse and on the other we should give Boris a hand to get out of the mess he went into. After all each European country is entitled for one big mistake no matter how costly it can be.I don't have a problem with the idea of country leaving the EU but you need to be serious about it. The Leaves seem to have no plan, no schedule, they know that being in the EU isn't bad, so as long as they are in it they are fine but that sword of Damocles isn't good for the EU, it's not good for the UK too but if they leave we don't really care, for that reason from the EU point of view a quick and amicable exit of the UK is ideal but if they try to play games or delay things they should be received with great hostility.
Indeed and they are all gunningfor the spoils of the City. Loads of you will noan about bankers, but the City drives 12% of our GDP. That probably pays for our NHS bill, but hey ho, ex-London mayor Boris clearly knows best.On the contrary, the fact we were in it meant the British commissioners and staff working in the EU could counter balance some of the madness.
A big part of what we have done while in the EU is protect British businesses by working to stop, or undermine, insane ideas.
Now we're out, now we can't influence what the EU wants to do, the EU will veer off into a direction that will be even worse for us than before. Worse, we have to now negotiate with these people over some kind of new deal.
It's not a case of "we should quit the EU", democracy has presented the opportunity for a country to quit the EU. The same democracy that gives other nations the same privilege.We should quit the EU cos MEPs know little about business? By that logic we might as well dissolve parliament then.
Couldn't this also work the other way around? That this is a warning shot for the EU to relax some of their supranational and most extreme stances? I know that the opposition in countries like Denmark and Finland (and probably several other countries) against the EU is even stronger than in Britain. And if one or two more countries leave, well then the EU isn't all that anymore, and a domino effect will surely follow.On the contrary, the fact we were in it meant the British commissioners and staff working in the EU could counter balance some of the madness.
A big part of what we have done while in the EU is protect British businesses by working to stop, or undermine, insane ideas.
Now we're out, now we can't influence what the EU wants to do, the EU will veer off into a direction that will be even worse for us than before. Worse, we have to now negotiate with these people over some kind of new deal.
There won't be single British commissioner, single British vote in the European Council, or a single British MEP there to try and push our cash, or mitigate some of the craziness that comes out of the EuroParliament. Sound economics won't factor into much of what is to come.
In my day job I have had the pleasure of engaging in the passage of EU legislation. I can tell you the worst is very much yet to come. Some of these people who will vote on our deal would happily see the EU go to crap if it meant carbon emissions would drop, and climate change would be controlled.
First of all, thank you for a good post and it is extremely refreshing to have some of the minority of Leave voters who have voted for good reasons express their views on this here where as you say the left and the Remain side do dominate a little.I've only read a couple of pages of this thread but can see the obvious strong majority remain support so thought I'd try and explain why I voted leave whilst simultaneously not being a xenophobic moron.
Sorry to begin slightly narcissisticly but a bit about me. I have a degree in law, I live in London, I'm 32 with 2 young kids, I'm Irish but have lived in England most of my life, I'm the son of immigrants, I'm reasonably off but not rich by any means. Not the typical leave voter being portrayed at present it's fair to say.
This is why I voted leave in the context of the major areas of argument:
- Immigration: I simply can't get my head around people's arguments on immigration, to be honest. I have voted leave because I believe in a fair policy that allows everyone, regardless of nationality, a fair crack at coming here. We desperately need immigration, but the point is we can choose to follow a policy which can be tailored to our needs as a country. Yes, some closet racists voted because they think 'them foreigners' will stop coming but thankfully they're utterly wrong. As a side issue to this, why did the UK not take anywhere near as many Syrian refugees as other major nations? Simply because the government had to be seen to be 'tough on immigration' when really they would have been the right people to help. I'm aware that there is every possibility we'll now enter the EEA but at least the possibility of a better system now exists.
The Economy - I'll be brief on this. The time since the result became clear has for me been a microcosm of what will ultimately happen. Short term panic and instability, followed by the underlying strength in the economy leading to recovery (the pound and FTSE have already recovered much of the ground lost initially but everyone in the remain camp keeps referring the 'worst since 1985' stat). The UK is the world's 5th largest economy, the ripple effects shown worldwide show just how much influence the country has. The isolation scaremongering simply won't happen (and again we may end up in the EEA).
Sovereignty - This is what my absolute key issue is. It's an argument that had been made and never answered satisfactorily for me. The government of the day MUST be able to make the decisions that are best for the people they govern. It's the purpose of government! I'm not saying that no decisions made by the European Commission or Council have been correct/needed. I'm not saying the UK hadn't agreed to many of the measures. However, if I and others fundamentally disagreed with an EU edict then we can do ZERO about either changing it or even influencing the decision-making process.
The EU has been so dogmatic about reform for many years and the reason for this is that it is unable to change due to the enormous consensus required for it to happen! 28 countries have to unanimously or by large majority agree (depending on the decision). The variety of vested interests inevitably results in the status quo being maintained and the institutions therefore have to wait for everyone to 'catch up' before anything can change.
The next few years will undoubtedly see massive upheaval but I genuinely believe that what will emerge will be a happier, more prosperous nation that will be a force for good. I was very torn because I see loads of good things about the EU but I'm happy with the choice made and I do believe we'll still be far more 'in' than many remainers currently believe.
Really interested to hear everyone's thoughts.
Well said, it'll be largely ignored here though. The "remainers" won't listen to posts like yours because they make too much senseLet's not forget that Britain is a major player on the trade front. Europe depends on us as much as we depend on them. I work for a corporation that exports military components to companies in France (and other EU countries) where multiple projects rely on us supplying complex design systems, and they have committed themselves to contracts for the next 10 - 15 years. Deals worth millions of £s. And we are only one corporation. There will be multiple contracts in place worth billions of Pounds/Euros that cannot simply be torn up because the EU is pissed off with us. Many people here need to wake up and realize that negotiating with Brussels will not be as terrible as you think.
Ireland was recently bailed out by the EU, and they rely on us to buy 50% of their meat. We don't have to, but we choose to, and it helps keep them from another bail out.
For goodness sake, stop the teeth chattering, it's going to be ok.
Its not a question of whether I like it. As I said before, I voted in my self-interest. If you can stop someone who you know, unrestrained, would be damaging to you, wouldn't you want the power to stop them? That was the whole point in British foreign policy since we joined. At every stage the British government has worked to undermine EU decision making. That is why we pushed for enlargement, because we realised making it bigger would make it harder for them to agree on things. Then when they introduced qualified majority voting and co-decision, we did other things, got other exemptions to protect ourselves.My God, I can't believe you can say things like this, and still want to be associated with such an organization.
Do you really believe that? You are Norwegian. You must have seen how religiously committed some of these people are to 'the European Project'. They have built their lives around it, never mind their careers. If the EU was going to change it would have done so when the financial crisis devastated Southern Europe. It would've done so when a million migrants turned up in Germany. The EU makes lip service to change and then it pushes for 'more Europe'. That is its raison d'etre.Couldn't this also work the other way around? That this is a warning shot for the EU to relax some of their supranational and most extreme stances? I know that the opposition in countries like Denmark and Finland (and probably several other countries) against the EU is even stronger than in Britain. And if one or two more countries leave, well then the EU isn't all that anymore, and a domino effect will surely follow.
No I dont believe that they will do it willingly, just for the reasons you state. But I also firmly believe that if they take a turn for the even more Eurofederalistic they will loose several more countries in "brexit" scenarios. And for many of the reasons you write the EU needs to have their wings clipped, they have grown into a supranational monster, and like one poster stated basically all that is missing is a death star.Its not a question of whether I like it. As I said before, I voted in my self-interest. If you can stop someone who you know, unrestrained, would be damaging to you, wouldn't you want the power to stop them? That was the whole point in British foreign policy since we joined. At every stage the British government has worked to undermine EU decision making. That is why we pushed for enlargement, because we realised making it bigger would make it harder for them to agree on things. Then when they introduced qualified majority voting and co-decision, we did other things, got other exemptions to protect ourselves.
People may like to think Britain run by imbeciles, but successive British governments and Foreign Office mandarins have adopted the stance they have to protect the British people. Now we are no longer able to do that. It will take all our wit to try and work out how to protect ourselves, and continue to thrive.
Do you really believe that? You are Norwegian. You must have seen how religiously committed some of these people are to 'the European Project'. They have built their lives around it, never mind their careers. If the EU was going to change it would have done so when the financial crisis devastated Southern Europe. It would've done so when a million migrants turned up in Germany. The EU makes lip service to change and then it pushes for 'more Europe'. That is its raison d'etre.
Britain has always been there to counterbalance that. Without us the forces of Eurofederalism will be totally unrestrained.
Please stop with the bullshit. I can't say anything about Denmark but over here in Finland the opposition is a lot smaller than in Britain, about one in three Finns think Finland should leave the EU.Couldn't this also work the other way around? That this is a warning shot for the EU to relax some of their supranational and most extreme stances? I know that the opposition in countries like Denmark and Finland (and probably several other countries) against the EU is even stronger than in Britain. And if one or two more countries leave, well then the EU isn't all that anymore, and a domino effect will surely follow.
Really? I think I read an article about opposition to the EU being on the rise in Finland.Please stop with the bullshit. I can't say anything about Denmark but over here in Finland the opposition is a lot smaller than in Britain, about one in three Finns think Finland should leave the EU.
Pro-leave throwing out more slogans with no substance - Britain needs to come together to get the best deal- no idea what that means in terms of either a) coming together, or b) the best deal, but doesn't it sound great?
The EU is the second biggest world economy when looked at as a single block, even without the UK. What makes the leave campaign think that the EU will let a competitor like the UK have free access to the trading block? What's in it for us, us being the rest of the EU?
On yer bike lads. Really feel for the majority of UK posters in here, this is going to be tough.
Completely agree.It comes from treating politics like sport. Oh we won, so now you have to come with us and help us create an absolute shitshow.
What does Leave even consider the best deal? Single market access and free movement, like Hannan wants? A magical Australian points style system? Which trade deals? And when?
"Come together", bollocks to that
This sums it up really. I feel sorry for Will for even having to debate this idiot. His face when she said about reading her Twitter was priceless. This is what we've become.
Damn, poor old Will Self. She had no substance, just rhetroic.
Oh didn't you hear mate the Conservatives are going to do what they've got to do, so.............Let's see how she likes the consequences of the Right wing side of the Tory party gaining power for the foreseeable future.
Why are all these things just coming out now, I don't understandDon't worry, we're not fecking agreeing to leaving the EU.
To be honest I think that was about the split in the UK until very recently, then they just kept hammering this immigration point and it snowballed.Please stop with the bullshit. I can't say anything about Denmark but over here in Finland the opposition is a lot smaller than in Britain, about one in three Finns think Finland should leave the EU.
Yeah it seemed that way to me too.To be honest I think that was about the split in the UK until very recently, then they just kept hammering this immigration point and it snowballed.
Because nobody knows the fecking lawWhy are all these things just coming out now, I don't understand
In all due respect, we're talking about changes on a biblical scale here.There are countless examples of companies being hurt financially by new and unexpected government/ trade regulation. Part of the skill in managing a multinational business is trying to predict future legislative changes... that's why businesses typically want stability, because regulatory change can be costly.