The Case for Remaining in the EU
After the big Scotland in/out referendum last year and the general election back in May, attentions have now firmly turned towards the next massive vote to impact upon the UK - that of EU membership. One of David Cameron's election pledges was that he'd open the debate on EU membership to the electorate, promising us a referendum before the end of 2017 to decide on whether we stay or leave.
Now of course just because the bigoted liar promised us a referendum as part of his election campaign that doesn't guarantee it has to happen. After all Cameron famously claimed he'd not be reducing tax credits and yet that's exactly what the party have tried to do this week, although thankfully they've so far failed to get the cuts past the House of Lords, but that's another issue!
So Cameron's promises aren't worth the paper they're printed on however in this instance the backlash he'd face from his own party were he to renege on the pledge to hold a referendum would be so vociferous that it would be near impossible to get away with it. As it happens the PM is fairly vocal on the subject of wishing to remain an EU member, albeit under newly negotiated terms, but it's no secret that a lot of the Tory backbenchers have other ideas. I have to admit that Cameron's determination to remain in the Union is about the only thing I agree with the ham faced idiot on but ultimately the decision on staying or leaving is now out of his hands.
So there is no avoiding it. At some point by the end of 2017 the great British public will be invited to the polls once more to make a decision on what's been dubbed "Brexit". Given that the government have already ruled out holding the referendum at the same time as the May 2016 devolved parliament elections in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as the London mayoral election, we can safely assume that the referendum vote will come towards the end of 2016 if not in early 2017. Leaving it until too late in 2017 runs the risk of the French (May) and German (September) general elections getting in the way so the smart money is on late 2016/early 2017.
The UK has been a member of the European Union since its accession to its forerunner the European Economic Community in 1973. This became the EU in 1993 and broadly speaking is a political and economic union that allows for the free movement of people, goods, services and capital between member states. Its benefits are far reaching and the UK has enjoyed access to the world's largest single market, worth hundreds of millions of pounds (and even more Euros) to the UK economy, for over four decades now.
On the other side of the coin however are the many rules and regulations that member states must adhere to, and this is what's primarily fueling the fire in the bellies of those opposed to UK EU membership - the Get Britain Out contingent. They claim that as much as 75% of all laws affecting the UK are decided by the EU Commission and that as a nation we no longer have a firm grip on our own rule of law. They also point to rising levels of immigration and financial contributions to the EU as being reasons to pull out.
Immigration is a very hot topic at the moment, especially given the mass influx of refugees fleeing war torn Syria, although these migrants seeking safety shouldn't be confused with the economic migrants of less wealthy EU states. It is the freedom of movement between member states that Europhobes object to, believing that too many migrants from poorer countries such as Poland, Bulgaria and Romania are causing a strain on British infrastructure.
Well in answer to the objection that the UK is contributing more financially to the EU than it gets out there's a great factsheet from the CBI which outlines just how the benefits to Britain outweigh the costs. It's interesting to note that the UK's net contribution to the EU budget is just 0.4% of the country's GDP, which is less than 12% of the defence budget and when you break it down as a per person contribution we are behind Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.
To counter the argument that net migration from the EU is somehow harming the country let me point you to this study into the fiscal impact of immigration in the UK conducted by the university of Oxford which is jam packed full of excellent stats to blow suggestions that immigrants harm our economy completely out of the water. One standout figure shows that between 2001 and 2011 recent migrants to the UK from other European countries were responsible for a net contribution of £22.1 billion. Can we really afford to shut the door to these people?
Given that the majority of objection towards EU membership comes from dyed in the wool Conservatives it shouldn’t be a surprise to learn that those who stand to gain most from a possible “Brexit” are the wealthy and privileged. A recent Independent article found that greedy hedge fund managers stand to make hundreds of millions outside of the EU and its restrictions on their irresponsible behaviour, so of course they’re going to be backing the Out campaign.
Recent polls have shown that support for EU membership has taken a battering across the country and there are worrying signs that this negative feeling towards Europe is only set to get worse. The trouble is getting people to recognise the benefits isn’t an easy task when there’s a high profile right wing agenda being propagated by much of the media that suggests we’re all being taken for a ride by Belgian bureaucrats.
Still, it’s not all doom and gloom. It has been regularly mooted that the reason for the failure of the Labour party to convince the electorate to escape the clutches of evil Cameron and his cronies was the disillusionment of the business community with the prospective policies of the Tory party’s main competitors. If the business community are those that hold the most sway then surely the cold hard figures in relation to the value of EU membership to UK businesses (hedge fund managers aside) will be key to keeping our membership alive.
This recent piece on Huffington Post from the MD of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants makes a very good case for the fact that the nation is most definitely stronger in Europe than outside of it, and if you can win over your friendly local family accountants in Hampshire as well as your average call centre worker in Lancashire then surely the battle is as good as won for the good guys.
What do you think? Do you disagree that we're better together? Let me know your thoughts in the comments or follow me on Twitter for more.
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Now of course just because the bigoted liar promised us a referendum as part of his election campaign that doesn't guarantee it has to happen. After all Cameron famously claimed he'd not be reducing tax credits and yet that's exactly what the party have tried to do this week, although thankfully they've so far failed to get the cuts past the House of Lords, but that's another issue!
So Cameron's promises aren't worth the paper they're printed on however in this instance the backlash he'd face from his own party were he to renege on the pledge to hold a referendum would be so vociferous that it would be near impossible to get away with it. As it happens the PM is fairly vocal on the subject of wishing to remain an EU member, albeit under newly negotiated terms, but it's no secret that a lot of the Tory backbenchers have other ideas. I have to admit that Cameron's determination to remain in the Union is about the only thing I agree with the ham faced idiot on but ultimately the decision on staying or leaving is now out of his hands.
So there is no avoiding it. At some point by the end of 2017 the great British public will be invited to the polls once more to make a decision on what's been dubbed "Brexit". Given that the government have already ruled out holding the referendum at the same time as the May 2016 devolved parliament elections in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as the London mayoral election, we can safely assume that the referendum vote will come towards the end of 2016 if not in early 2017. Leaving it until too late in 2017 runs the risk of the French (May) and German (September) general elections getting in the way so the smart money is on late 2016/early 2017.
So What is at Stake?
The UK has been a member of the European Union since its accession to its forerunner the European Economic Community in 1973. This became the EU in 1993 and broadly speaking is a political and economic union that allows for the free movement of people, goods, services and capital between member states. Its benefits are far reaching and the UK has enjoyed access to the world's largest single market, worth hundreds of millions of pounds (and even more Euros) to the UK economy, for over four decades now.
On the other side of the coin however are the many rules and regulations that member states must adhere to, and this is what's primarily fueling the fire in the bellies of those opposed to UK EU membership - the Get Britain Out contingent. They claim that as much as 75% of all laws affecting the UK are decided by the EU Commission and that as a nation we no longer have a firm grip on our own rule of law. They also point to rising levels of immigration and financial contributions to the EU as being reasons to pull out.
Immigration is a very hot topic at the moment, especially given the mass influx of refugees fleeing war torn Syria, although these migrants seeking safety shouldn't be confused with the economic migrants of less wealthy EU states. It is the freedom of movement between member states that Europhobes object to, believing that too many migrants from poorer countries such as Poland, Bulgaria and Romania are causing a strain on British infrastructure.
Debunking the Myths
Well in answer to the objection that the UK is contributing more financially to the EU than it gets out there's a great factsheet from the CBI which outlines just how the benefits to Britain outweigh the costs. It's interesting to note that the UK's net contribution to the EU budget is just 0.4% of the country's GDP, which is less than 12% of the defence budget and when you break it down as a per person contribution we are behind Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.
To counter the argument that net migration from the EU is somehow harming the country let me point you to this study into the fiscal impact of immigration in the UK conducted by the university of Oxford which is jam packed full of excellent stats to blow suggestions that immigrants harm our economy completely out of the water. One standout figure shows that between 2001 and 2011 recent migrants to the UK from other European countries were responsible for a net contribution of £22.1 billion. Can we really afford to shut the door to these people?
So Who Benefits?
Given that the majority of objection towards EU membership comes from dyed in the wool Conservatives it shouldn’t be a surprise to learn that those who stand to gain most from a possible “Brexit” are the wealthy and privileged. A recent Independent article found that greedy hedge fund managers stand to make hundreds of millions outside of the EU and its restrictions on their irresponsible behaviour, so of course they’re going to be backing the Out campaign.
Recent polls have shown that support for EU membership has taken a battering across the country and there are worrying signs that this negative feeling towards Europe is only set to get worse. The trouble is getting people to recognise the benefits isn’t an easy task when there’s a high profile right wing agenda being propagated by much of the media that suggests we’re all being taken for a ride by Belgian bureaucrats.
Still, it’s not all doom and gloom. It has been regularly mooted that the reason for the failure of the Labour party to convince the electorate to escape the clutches of evil Cameron and his cronies was the disillusionment of the business community with the prospective policies of the Tory party’s main competitors. If the business community are those that hold the most sway then surely the cold hard figures in relation to the value of EU membership to UK businesses (hedge fund managers aside) will be key to keeping our membership alive.
This recent piece on Huffington Post from the MD of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants makes a very good case for the fact that the nation is most definitely stronger in Europe than outside of it, and if you can win over your friendly local family accountants in Hampshire as well as your average call centre worker in Lancashire then surely the battle is as good as won for the good guys.
What do you think? Do you disagree that we're better together? Let me know your thoughts in the comments or follow me on Twitter for more.
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