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Have you made your mind up about the referendum?

(530 Posts)
obieone Thu 19-May-16 08:36:16

Yes.

I am curious to know how many have. Personally I do not read much about it any more, nor talk about it as dont see the point.

thatbags Sat 21-May-16 17:01:00

The far right is on the up in several EU countries, stronger than here. I don't think UK being an EU member will change that. I think the far right is on the up because of the EU.

Welshwife Sat 21-May-16 17:19:33

You only have to look at some African countries to see how AID from Govts such as ours is spent - not on what was intended but to line pockets and make some people rich - and that is nothing to do with the EU. The far right has often popped up and back down again in history whoever is in Govt - the EU has far more chance of stopping things or seeing it balance with other places being further to the left.
The big problem we will face from outside the EU is the ability to trade easily. At the moment things can be designed in one country and made in another and dispatched from a third and still with no barriers and because the EU has common standards they can be sold in every state with no further certificates etc. That will stop and none of it will be so easy. France already finds some things are sold much cheaper in UK - these can be bought from UK websites and delivered to France with no problems at all. That will no longer be the case if we leave - there will be hoops to jump through and tariffs to pay. It will actually suit France. You Some household goods are up to 50% more than in UK - so quite a market will be lost.

Floradora9 Sat 21-May-16 17:35:04

Should the "out "vote win the day and at a later date it is decided we made a mistake and want to join again we would have to adopt the Euro to be readmitted . A sobering thought .
As for worker's rights why do people think the majotity of Scots will vote to remain ? The reason is the good laws for worker's rights. All the Brits who work in the EU countries and are eligible to vote will not vote to leave as they would be in a difficult position as to remaining in France etc.. Their votes might make a big difference .

Welshwife Sat 21-May-16 18:00:47

I don't think it would be easy for us to rejoin the EU Floradora but I think you would be right about needing to join the Euro. Would not be a good rate if we joined now let alone then.

Ana Sat 21-May-16 18:11:03

I think the possibility of the UK wanting to rejoin the EU at a later date is not something we need to be worrying about right now...

gangy5 Sat 21-May-16 18:44:10

Day6 -as far as - I'm concerned, you are SO on the money with your posts . I also feel that the EU should be looking to improve Eastern European member countries so that the populace wish to stay there, rather than migrating to wealthier nations. Surely the original idea was to bring a little more equality in finance and standards of living to all member states. One can never see this happening. The likes of Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy are all suffering whilst they see others are prospering. Why is it that the EU is looking to pull in more of the poorer Eastern European nations??. Ultimatelty, this has to be a recipe for disaster.

suzied Sat 21-May-16 19:04:06

One of the reasons the UK economy has been stronger in recent years has been the efforts of migrants from Poland etc working in the construction industry etc. Interesting fact there are more French people living in the Uk than in anywhere else apart from Paris. I am more worried about illegal migrants from Pakistan, Somalia etc than EU migrants who are working.

Welshwife Sat 21-May-16 19:05:08

These countries want to join the EU but are a long way off being able to do so - if ever they can. It is another frightening tactic. The Brexit camp know that people are afraid of migration and are playing on that. Lessons have been learned about admitting countries too soon and the disaster it leads to.

suzied Sat 21-May-16 19:07:00

The illegals won't stop coming if there is brexit.

Welshwife Sat 21-May-16 19:17:54

It will be easier for them as there will be no border at the French ports. They will be able to board the trains for the tunnel - quite easy really as the carriages which carry the freight have not got solid sides and you can get on and off quite easily.

petra Sat 21-May-16 19:44:51

I can't speak for other Brexiters but I'm certainly not afraid of migration, I just think we have had enough of it.
As the sainted Angelena Jolie said on radio 4 this week: "Angela Merkels decision to open the borders was beautiful but wrong" She also said: "It was crucial to distinguish between refugees and economic migrants. There is no blanket humane right to settle in another country"

POGS Sat 21-May-16 20:39:42

Can I ask a question to those who repeatedly state they wish to stay in because of 'Workers Rights'.

What do you think about the ' days of riots ' that are occurring in France in opposition to the Labour Reforms?

NotTooOld Sat 21-May-16 21:09:45

Has anyone else seen the scary footage on Facebook of the violence that is currently going on in Calais between the migrants, the French police and the transport drivers? The accompanying text states that there is virtually a news blackout on this in the UK as we are in the run-up to the referendum.

POGS - I'm a Brexiter and I agree with you.

Welshwife Sat 21-May-16 21:43:52

Calais first - the footage you are seeing is likely to be a few months ago when the authorities moved some of the migrants to other areas of France or to new areas of the camps in Calais or Dunkirk where some more suitable accommodation was given - however many of the migrants preferred their own built shelters. The children do in the main have a better school there now.supplies for the camps are well organised by volunteers in Calais ( many if them Brits who go across for weeks at a time) and businesses and people donate food and other supplies regularly
If the vote is for Brexit the people of Calais will be delighted because the Maires are likely to insist the Border Control is removed from Calais and Dunkirk back to the UK ports and they will to a great degree just let the migrants through. It will then be up to the tunnel security to maintain the border or not. The camps will then likely be at Folkstone and Dover.

Welshwife Sat 21-May-16 22:01:08

The French workers naturally have all the EU workers rights plus more. Some of these are to be tightened up At the moment it is very hard for workers to be laid off here - more so than UK. It is also enormously expensive for employers to employ people making them loathe to take workers on particularly on a permanent basis. Their retirement age etc is better than UK workers. Reform is necessary in some areas to they say lesson the people out of work. The workers see this as an erosion of their rights and always volatile demonstrate.
The air traffic controllers have a strike to protest about changes to the areas each control tower is responsible for - making each block of air space far bigger eventually leading to very few areas across European Air space. - they see this as being very dangerous as local problems within a block of air space could go unnoticed.
None of this has anything to do with the EU bill of rights for the workers which will not be affected. This is part of the sovereign rights of France to make their own laws as UK can still do.

durhamjen Sat 21-May-16 22:11:15

www.tuc.org.uk/international-issues/europe/eu-referendum/workplace-issues/priti-patel-reveals-leave-campaign-agenda

read this, POGS.

POGS Sat 21-May-16 22:17:38

Why?

Welshwife Sat 21-May-16 22:18:42

I find it surprising they would admit that much Jen - if they are giving that amount of info now now deep would their changes go? Just makes it all even more worrying.

Welshwife Sat 21-May-16 22:20:08

It answers your question pogs of some of the things they admit they would do!

fluffy58 Sat 21-May-16 22:31:51

100% out

durhamjen Sat 21-May-16 23:21:50

But you do not have to if you do not want an answer to your question.
On the other hand, why ask us about what we think about workers rights and why we want to stay in.? Not like you to be contrary, POGS.

NotTooOld, how can you agree wityh POGS? She hasn't said anything for you to agree with.
Perhaps you should read what Brexiters think about workers rights, too.

If Grumpa is reading this, it's about Priti Patel.

POGS Sat 21-May-16 23:22:04

By ' they' do you mean a Conservative government , Brexit campaigners such as Labour MP's Kate Hoey, Gisela Stuart? Or do you mean the 'single' voice of Priti Patel?

This presumption of loss of workers rights would also require the backing of Parliament, do you think that would happen? I suppose it could but I am more inclined to believe there would be uproar and the Opposition Benches and probably they would also have a few Conservative back bench rebellion MP's that would vote any proposals out.

I am always going on about our terrible world news coverage but France is having a bad time at the moment. I take the point re the problems are being caused by the sovereign rights of France to make it's own labour reforms by the way but I am not of the opinion workers rights is as big an issue as being spouted in connection to Brexit.

Out of interest. www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36279257.

durhamjen Sat 21-May-16 23:40:36

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/owen-tudor/eu-referendum-brexit-workers-rights_b_9793384.html

durhamjen Sat 21-May-16 23:44:31

The report about France is no more than the www.peoplesassembly.org.uk march, last month, did.

www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/hhje_report

durhamjen Sat 21-May-16 23:48:49

Priti Patel's single voice is the voice of the government spokesperson on employment at the DWP.