Have you made your mind up about the referendum?

No question about it. We really do need to get out. I have listened to everything both sides are saying and just become more convinced that leaving is the best way forward. I get frustrated when people say they don't really understand the issues so will vote to continue as we are. Arrggghhh!

Ana, I'm sure you are right, the silent majority will have their day. (I seem to remember the general election predictions)

I do not find this thread biased to one side or the other. I do find the way the two sides present their views very different. If you feel we need to leave - vote that way; if you feel we need to stay - vote that way but it will be a democratic vote either way, we do each have only one vote.

It sounds, to me, as if some posters are beginning to manage expectations and get their excuses in now

Firecracker123 and Ana, I knew it would likely end this way when I started the thread, but considered it worth doing anyway.
It is nice to hear from posters who dont or wouldnt normally dream of posting on the politics topic.
And also from those who dont know what they are going to vote, as well as from normal posters of course.

But this thread was supposed to be just about whether we had made our minds up which way to vote, Gracesgran. There is another thread on which to discuss the issues at stake - why can't we just be allowed one thread to state our intentions without being bombarded with propaganda?

It must be annoying when you know your right but the majority think your wrong.

So why did you not just all say that?
Nobody had to write long spiels, like Day6 started to do.

Nice to know I am considered an ignorant peasant because I will be voting out

Who are the 'normal posters'? obieone?

Why do you think "out" voters considered ignorant peasants harrigran?

I am definitely voting out for all sorts of reasons.

It doesn't say a lot for a very expensive Eton education if it's only the uneducated plebs who are voting out.

That's so obviously not true, petra. Boris went to Eton, you know.

Please where is the original referenced to "uneducated plebs" in this thread?

I don't think out voters are ignorant peasants but some posters obviously do as Varian said apparently there is a strong correlation between the level of education and inclination to remain
She also said the people with a lower level of education are more inclined to decide on emotional grounds and be influenced by the Sun, Express and the Daily Mail. A sweeping statement.

Could Austria be next in demanding a referendum? It looks as if they are going to vote in a far right leader on Monday.
Who next, France?

I saw that fact reported in the press lucky however I think it was used as a statement rather than being used as an insult - a bit like the survey done some years ago which showed the level of reading age needed to understand national newspapers. The Sun and Mirror required the lowest ability and the others ranged upwards to the Times needing the highest reading ability.

Welshwife's post of 14.24 today. I wonder if I could possibly manage to read a page of The Times without having to give up in despair - too many Big Words...

The Express and the Daily Mail have been reported to ipso for telling lies about the EU.

Varian also said they have their own agenda. You missed that bit out, harrigran.

I too saw the same reports which varian did - she just happened to mention what the article said not that it was her opinion.
I don't know what people actually think they will gain by the UK Govt being totally in charge of laws etc - one law which many of you younger people would be glad about if it were an EU regulation is the retirement age - it is still 62 in France - decided by their Govt not the EU.
Someone mentioned the farmers and their equipment etc - they do not own this equipment but hire it usually by the 24 hour period so you will see farmers working all night long when it is harvest time. The roads etc have less potholes as there seems to be little demarcation of job lines if you work for the council and the men who fill in the potholes will also cut the verges and clear the litter depending on the season.
When new roads are being built there is always the information given listing all the authorities which are paying for the project. Sometimes there is EU money - same as in UK - the current Heads of the Valleys road in Walse has a good deal of EU funding - but often it is Department money - dept as in Dordogne. Landed etc.
Most of the EU migrants in UK are not actually lower paid workers but executives with highly paid jobs contributing a lot to the UK economy not taking from the system. Their tax contributions will be missed.

durhamjen wow, I didn't know that. You obviously know this stuff because your educated. Any more gems you wish to impart to us plebs.

I am not absolutely sure, it is very difficult, but at the moment it will be to stay.

Oh, don't encourage her petra, isn't GN overwhelmed with blue links already?

I will vote to stay in. There are changes which need to be made, especially better border control. I think it would be a big mistake to isolate ourselves from the rest of Europe and that we stand a better chance from all points of view being part of the EU. However, I do not think that some of the poorer countries currently applying to join should be allowed to do so as their poor economic situation would not benefit existing members.

Several people have expressed their wish to leave, or have said they haven't yet decided how to vote.

Some people have given more information as to why they wish to leave or to stay. I can't see what the problem is. The "leave" side is as represented as the "stay" side but if some "leavers" choose to express racist sentiments they do, in my opinion, do their case no good at all. I certainly don't want to be associated with people who speak of immigrants in such terms and if this is primarily what the "leave" supporters represent then I am fast moving towards the "stay" position, despite some real concerns about the EU.

petra I live in the south east (London) too and it is certainly not "full up". In Surrey, for instance, there is more land used for golf courses than for housing. I agree that more funding and stimulus should go to the northern areas of the country, but it is not the EU that is responsible but our own succession of London-centric governments.

I feel I'm at saturation point after listening to and reading all the issues both for and against. Fairly certain I will vote to remain.