UK: In or out of Europe?

[StringJunky]

The UK will be deciding, via referendum, whether to remain an integral part of the European community or to go it alone. What will be the pros and cons of either path?

 

I've always had an 'island' mindset but, in the last few years, have come realise that the UK is probably one of the top four countries that carry the most international weight in the democratic world. I now don't think it would be responsible for us to withdraw back into our collectively island self. The world is, inexorably, becoming a global village and we would be in grave error to ignore this integration.

Edited February 28, 2016 by StringJunky

[John Cuthber]

Why make a change, unless you are seeking to solve a problem?
What's the problem that is solved by leaving the EU?

[StringJunky]

Why make a change, unless you are seeking to solve a problem?

What's the problem that is solved by leaving the EU?

Immigration control, sovereignty on domestic finances, law etc. These are some of the things that will be argued, as I'm sure you know.

[iNow]

Am reminded of calls for Texas to secede from the US. Lots of bluster that appeals to the far right that misses the obvious issue of globalization and new risks introduced by doing so.

 

A clear flaw in the EU is that countries are held under a single currency without being held under a single fiscal and monetary authority or power, but UK avoids even that flaw by remaining on the pound.

 

The oceans are rising and the islands are vanishing, both ecologically and metaphorically. Progress is a forward path while departure from the EU a backward one.

[StringJunky]

..The oceans are rising and the islands are vanishing, both ecologically and metaphorically. Progress is a forward path while departure from the EU a backward one.

I'm heading in that direction. As much as I'm fed up with the difficulties, we can't turn the clock back and pretend we can be totally autonomous again.

[John Cuthber]

Immigration control, sovereignty on domestic finances, law etc. These are some of the things that will be argued, as I'm sure you know.

Well, you can split immigration into two. Immigration from the EU which is controlled by EU law and which is small- there are very nearly as many Brits in the rest of the EU as there are "continental" Europeans in Britain.

On the other hand, there's immigration from the rest of the world- much of that will come through mainland Europe and not cooperating with the rest of Europe isn't going to help that much. Oh, and it's covered by other international treaties- so leaving the EU wouldn't help.

We still have sovereignty over domestic finance- that's why Mr Osborne can continue with his plans to give money to rich people.

 

Which laws that were introduced from, or via, the EU do you have a problem with?

The Human rights act, perhaps?

Mr. Cameron wanted to abolish it, but he never quite explained which bits of it he was unhappy with.

Here's a list of the conventions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Convention_on_Human_Rights#Convention_articles

 

Or do you have a problem with maternity leave, or what?