[Beastie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

But why do you though? You're not Irish and what you said is very insulting to Irish people. (except maybe Laura )

I know I am not Irish. I am not Scottish or Welsh either but they are still part of the UK. I couldn't care less who is English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish!

I am English but I don't agree England should have "the power". Like I said.. England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland should be equals.

I know that people are probably paranoid because David Cameron is English and is the PM.

Personally I live in the North of England and I think places like London are too overcrowded and I wouldn't want to live there but it's still a nice place to visit.

London has the power. The rest of England doesn't.

[Beastie]

Originally Posted by karezza

They are contributing the most and they face being swamped by Turks.

Oh right. So it's like too many Turkish people are immigrating there. While too many people from all over Europe are immigrating to the UK. Especially England.. which is small.

[Enid]

Beast, leave the political spiel to people who know politics.

[Beastie]

Originally Posted by Enid

Beast, leave the political spiel to people who know politics.

Okay. I will. Mankind on the planet is just going to kill each other within the next 100 years anyway.

[Enid]

Originally Posted by Beastie

Okay. I will. Mankind on the planet is just going to kill each other within the next 100 years anyway.

Exactly. Sit back and watch it all unfold.

[Beastie]

Originally Posted by Enid

Exactly. Sit back and watch it all unfold.

Ooo thanks I must know a bit about politics then

Amen!

[MTVN]

Ireland rejoining the UK? Get real, noone in the UK wants that and noone in Ireland wants that, would never happen.

Anyway to answer the question, I support free trade among European countries, and freedom of movement, but I dont support a political and social Union like we have now. The "President" of Europe is some Belgian who noone knows and nobody elected, hardly democratic

[Grimnir]

If we ever had a referendum like we should have I vote 100% NO.

I would want England to become totally separate from Scotland and Wales, becoming Kingdom of England.
Scotland and Wales become independent countries.
Ireland should be one country too.

England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales all hold on to the donkeys tails

[Shaun]

The legislative nature of the EU is greatly exaggerated - I saw Nigel Farage on the 10 O Clock Live show claiming they account for about 75% of all of our legislation now - when in fact the real figure is about 30% maximum. The majority of these laws are also quite trivial - agricultural, some small economic laws... not that I wish demean their importance, but I think euro-skeptics try to spread the impression that the EU is about to make us all learn German, French, Italian, Spanish and Polish, whilst surrendering our sovereign independence.

I also think it would be foolish to distance ourselves from it because of the economic benefits. Saying 'fack off' to your biggest next-door trade neighbours would be foolish.

I think generally there's a lot of, dare I say it, xenophobia amongst the English. The Scottish and Welsh generally seem to be in favour of closer European ties, but the English have this "we hate the ______" attitude to pretty much everyone and it doesn't really help that every other day The Sun is publishing a whole new "OMG EU WANTS US TO TAKE IN 200,000 BULGARIANS" scare story.

Wasn't there a referendum a couple of years ago to see if we'd adopt the Euro? I really don't get what's so "British" about the Pound, it's just a coin with an unelected sponger on it

I guess I'm a bit of a Europhile

[MTVN]

I'd prefer we were more like Switzerland (I think we could learn a lot from the Swiss actually), founder of the European Free Trade Association, and has good relations with Europe but it doesnt entail itself in the EU

[Zippy]

Originally Posted by Beastie

Okay :S Maybe I need to read up on some history. I don't get what the bad blood is about.

pmsl

they hate us for colonising their country and we hate them for Jedward, Westlife and Louis Walsh. Just to spare you the read.

[joeysteele]

I voted yes to the question on this thread above to remaining in the EU, but I think there should be attempts to re-negotiate a lot of what we signed up to.

I also think its time to have a new referendum on Europe as to whether we stay in or come out, a decision for the people to make binding on the govt..
I was reading a book on the last referendum held in the 70s and that was more a trading concern as a member of the European community.
Things have changed massively since then.

To the comments of why should the Republic of Ireland remain an island on its own and not be part of the UK, why on earth should they be part of the UK, 1) they wouldn't want to be anyway and 2) who can blame them for that.

[Princess]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

But why do you though? You're not Irish and what you said is very insulting to Irish people. (except maybe Laura )

Even as unpatriotic as I am I would never want Ireland to be part of the UK,we're two different countries and it's the way it should stay.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Princess

Even as unpatriotic as I am I would never want Ireland to be part of the UK,we're two different countries and it's the way it should stay.

haha, I was only messing anyway, couldn't resist

[Z]

Originally Posted by Beastie

But Wales and Scotland and Northern Ireland still have their own identitites and patriotism. I just think Republic of Ireland should be part of the UK. That's it. They don't have to change any of their patriotism or religion or anything they believe in just like everything else.

But obviously you don't believe that the Republic of Ireland should be part of the UK. So I will just leave it at that.

You've kind of answered your own question there - many English people view the other nations of the United Kingdom as being less than equal to them; that the United Kingdom is England and some others, and that is why so many people are opposed to being a part of the United Kingdom.

Why withdraw from the EU? It does far more good than harm.

[Niall]

Yes we should remain a part of the EU.

Though many forget, the economic benefits of the EU outweigh the detriments, for instance if we were to leave the EU then we would have to still have to comply with EU trading laws if we wish to trade with them still and we would have no say in what those laws were anymore. Being part of the EU also makes it easier for us to trade with nations on the continent.

Secondly, being part of the EU makes it so easy to travel around the continent. Moving from country to country has never been easier - we'd love all that if we were to leave.

[Jords]

Yeeee.

[bananarama]

The EU is by no means perfect. Nothing political involving many types of politics can ever be perfect.

That's no reason to leave it. Unfortunately those that are rather stupid or unscrupulous in politics love to use the EU as a scape goat for Britains problems......Nothing could be further from the truth. Britains problems are caused by British polititions and indeed many British people who love to jump on unintelligent "ANTI" this or that bandwagons

[Jessica.]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

here's a good film for you to watch too :

Spoiler:

That film is so sad!

[Judas]

I basically agree with most of what Shaun said, apart from the end bit. (There has never been, and I predict in the next 10 years atleast, never will be, a referendum on switching to the euro).

For the time being I feel that keeping our currencies seperate is a good idea, and my views on that matter are unlikely to change in looking at the current climate. However, I think every other part of the EU benefits us as a nation. I don't think our sovereignty is being challenged, and even if it were to be, I feel that we would still be able to withdraw this challenge to our powers easily, as the EU would be unlikely to act against these measures.

[Angus]

Originally Posted by Judas

I basically agree with most of what Shaun said, apart from the end bit. (There has never been, and I predict in the next 10 years atleast, never will be, a referendum on switching to the euro).

For the time being I feel that keeping our currencies seperate is a good idea, and my views on that matter are unlikely to change in looking at the current climate. However, I think every other part of the EU benefits us as a nation. I don't think our sovereignty is being challenged, and even if it were to be, I feel that we would still be able to withdraw this challenge to our powers easily, as the EU would be unlikely to act against these measures.

Our sovereignty has already been drastically eroded, with unelected European judges imposing legislation that contradicts and over-rides our own Laws. It is one thing for the EU to be involved in our economic affairs, and quite another for it to be involved in our legislative and judicial affairs. I sincerely hope that the Government makes a stand against the ever encroaching, unwanted influence of the EU on our freedom to self determine, and self govern, unlike the last lot who just rolled over without a murmur.

Thank goodness we have retained our own currency, but I'm sick to death of us having to contribute to the bailing out of countries that have failed with the Euro - Greece, Eire, and now Portugal.

[Liberty4eva]

I see many people from the UK are starting to love their chains and couldn't envision living without them. The EU taking over your country is probably the most important issue the UK faces. You should get out while you still can.

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by Liberty4eva

I see many people from the UK are starting to love their chains and couldn't envision living without them. The EU taking over your country is probably the most important issue the UK faces. You should get out while you still can.

Where to? The North American Union, with you, Mexico and Canada, where we can happily spend our Ameros? Out of the frying pan into the fire.

[Judas]

Originally Posted by angus58

Our sovereignty has already been drastically eroded, with unelected European judges imposing legislation that contradicts and over-rides our own Laws. It is one thing for the EU to be involved in our economic affairs, and quite another for it to be involved in our legislative and judicial affairs. I sincerely hope that the Government makes a stand against the ever encroaching, unwanted influence of the EU on our freedom to self determine, and self govern, unlike the last lot who just rolled over without a murmur.

That post read like a Daily Mail text book. They would be very proud. Anyway, I won't argue the obvious comebacks, but surely if the judges were elected it would be abit pointless? That would just allow you to raise more concern...

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by angus58

Our sovereignty has already been drastically eroded, with unelected European judges imposing legislation that contradicts and over-rides our own Laws. It is one thing for the EU to be involved in our economic affairs, and quite another for it to be involved in our legislative and judicial affairs. I sincerely hope that the Government makes a stand against the ever encroaching, unwanted influence of the EU on our freedom to self determine, and self govern, unlike the last lot who just rolled over without a murmur.

Thank goodness we have retained our own currency, but I'm sick to death of us having to contribute to the bailing out of countries that have failed with the Euro - Greece, Eire, and now Portugal.

I agree on keeping our own currency in particular, although I believe it is certainly the aim of the Lib Dems to have the Euro and that its also the long term plan of the Tories too.
We would have had it now if in the early 90s after we joined the ERM that had that venture been successful, the next step would have been to adopt the Euro.

Labour also wnated the Euro under Tony Blair,he was ready to go for it for the UK, but Gordon Brown as Chancellor blocked him doing so, one of the good things Brown actually did.

If the terms and time was right I still believe a UK govt will do it eventually,finding a way to do so without a binding referendum from the people.