The result of the EU referendum:

[Aruntraveller]

I think we would be CRAZY to leave the EU. The UK is too small to stand alone in this day and age, imo.

Too small?  Sixth largest economy in the world?

The EU is the worlds second greatest economic region (neck and neck with China and America) and likewise one of the most significant markets in the world. The UK would have to be CRAZY to give-up unrestricted access to such a market.

Totally agree. I don't know why people don't get this.

[ad_orientem]

The EU is just part of the neo-liberal globalist scheme, designed to make the well-off richer and keep the less well-off in their place. The UK leaving the EU would therefore be a good thing in the hope that it would mean the beginning of the end of the EU.

[L.A.]

The EU is jst part of the neo-liberal globalust scheme, designed to make the well-off richer and kerp the less well-off in their place. The UK leaving the EU would therefore be a good thing in the hope that it would mean the beginning of the enx of the EU.

I assume that you mean 'a good thing' in terms of making most of us a lot less rich?

[BashfulAnthony]

ONS figures:

"Exports to China were up by 11 per cent over the last three months to average more than £1billion a month. Those to the US increased by seven per cent over the same period. But a trend of falling exports to EU countries since autumn 2011 has continued. The ONS monthly update said: “The deficit on trade with other EU countries rose by £1.5billion to £15.4billion in the last three months while the deficit with the rest of the world was £1billion lower.”

Over the 12 months to last April, UK exports to non-EU countries rose by £1.3billion to £13.1billion a month. During the same period, exports to the EU fell by nearly £0.3billion to £16.8billion. Once trade in services is taken into account, about half UK exports go outside the EU."

We seem to be managing well enough with our trade outside the EU, and our trade with China, Brazil, India, etc, are blossoming. We would manage well enough without the restrictions, and interference of Brussels, not to mention the millstone of such partners as Greece.

[Aruntraveller]

Once trade in services is taken into account, about half UK exports go outside the EU."

So about 1/2 is within the EU.

Would it be right and prudent to forego the favourable trading terms we have?

[L.A.]

ONS figures:

"Exports to China were up by 11 per cent over the last three months to average more than £1billion a month. Those to the US increased by seven per cent over the same period. But a trend of falling exports to EU countries since autumn 2011 has continued. The ONS monthly update said: “The deficit on trade with other EU countries rose by £1.5billion to £15.4billion in the last three months while the deficit with the rest of the world was £1billion lower.”

Over the 12 months to last April, UK exports to non-EU countries rose by £1.3billion to £13.1billion a month. During the same period, exports to the EU fell by nearly £0.3billion to £16.8billion. Once trade in services is taken into account, about half UK exports go outside the EU."

We seem to be managing well enough with our trade outside the EU, and our trade with China, Brazil, India, etc, are blossoming. We would manage well enough without the restrictions, and interference of Brussels, not to mention the millstone of such partners as Greece.

You seem to be suggesting that it would be fine to put half of our exports in jeopardy?

[BashfulAnthony]

Once trade in services is taken into account, about half UK exports go outside the EU."

So about 1/2 is within the EU.

Would it be right and prudent to forego the favourable trading terms we have?

It would be vital for EU countries to trade with us;  we are more successful than they:  they need us.  But if our overseas trade continues to develop as it is, we would be better off in the long term anyway.

[ad_orientem]

The EU is jst part of the neo-liberal globalust scheme, designed to make the well-off richer and kerp the less well-off in their place. The UK leaving the EU would therefore be a good thing in the hope that it would mean the beginning of the enx of the EU.

I assume that you mean 'a good thing' in terms of making most of us a lot less rich?

Right! If you mean the elite, then yes, but most, no. The EU has bought in to the austerity myth and most are suffering.

[Aruntraveller]

Once trade in services is taken into account, about half UK exports go outside the EU."

So about 1/2 is within the EU.

Would it be right and prudent to forego the favourable trading terms we have?

It would be vital for EU countries to trade with us;  we are more successful than they:  they need us.  But if our overseas trade continues to develop as it is, we would be better off in the long term anyway.

That won't necessarily remain the case.

[BashfulAnthony]

Once trade in services is taken into account, about half UK exports go outside the EU."

So about 1/2 is within the EU.

Would it be right and prudent to forego the favourable trading terms we have?

It would be vital for EU countries to trade with us;  we are more successful than they:  they need us.  But if our overseas trade continues to develop as it is, we would be better off in the long term anyway.

That won't necessarily remain the case.

The ONS statistics suggest it will be.

[L.A.]

The EU is jst part of the neo-liberal globalust scheme, designed to make the well-off richer and kerp the less well-off in their place. The UK leaving the EU would therefore be a good thing in the hope that it would mean the beginning of the enx of the EU.

I assume that you mean 'a good thing' in terms of making most of us a lot less rich?

Right! If you mean the elite, then yes, but most, no. The EU has bought in to the austerity myth and most are suffering.

Elite can be a relative word. Those 'poor' EU citizens who are 'suffering' from austerity might be regarded as doing very nicely by many of those outside of the EU.

[L.A.]

Once trade in services is taken into account, about half UK exports go outside the EU."

So about 1/2 is within the EU.

Would it be right and prudent to forego the favourable trading terms we have?

It would be vital for EU countries to trade with us;  we are more successful than they:  they need us.  But if our overseas trade continues to develop as it is, we would be better off in the long term anyway.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that all exports to EU countries would cease if we left, but we would no longer have unrestricted access and might well face new tariff barriers.

[BashfulAnthony]

Once trade in services is taken into account, about half UK exports go outside the EU."

So about 1/2 is within the EU.

Would it be right and prudent to forego the favourable trading terms we have?

It would be vital for EU countries to trade with us;  we are more successful than they:  they need us.  But if our overseas trade continues to develop as it is, we would be better off in the long term anyway.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that all exports to EU countries would cease if we left, but we would no longer have unrestricted access and might well face new tariff barriers.

But trade with us will remain crucial to the EU countries, and ways round such restrictions would be found, would have to be found, for the benefit of all concerned.

[L.A.]

Once trade in services is taken into account, about half UK exports go outside the EU."

So about 1/2 is within the EU.

Would it be right and prudent to forego the favourable trading terms we have?

It would be vital for EU countries to trade with us;  we are more successful than they:  they need us.  But if our overseas trade continues to develop as it is, we would be better off in the long term anyway.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that all exports to EU countries would cease if we left, but we would no longer have unrestricted access and might well face new tariff barriers.

But trade with us will remain crucial to the EU countries, and ways round such restrictions would be found, would have to be found, for the benefit of all concerned.

That's a very complacent attitude. particularly in the present economic climate. You can be pretty certain that if we leave there will be calls for protectionism.

Why buy British goods if you can save EU jobs by buying EU goods?

[Rhiannon]

Can't discuss leaving the EU without this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30493297

[BashfulAnthony]

Once trade in services is taken into account, about half UK exports go outside the EU."

So about 1/2 is within the EU.

Would it be right and prudent to forego the favourable trading terms we have?

It would be vital for EU countries to trade with us;  we are more successful than they:  they need us.  But if our overseas trade continues to develop as it is, we would be better off in the long term anyway.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that all exports to EU countries would cease if we left, but we would no longer have unrestricted access and might well face new tariff barriers.

But trade with us will remain crucial to the EU countries, and ways round such restrictions would be found, would have to be found, for the benefit of all concerned.

That's a very complacent attitude. particularly in the present economic climate. You can be pretty certain that if we leave there will be calls for protectionism.

Why buy British goods if you can save EU jobs by buying EU goods?

You buy goods that you need and what is in demand.  Any business will buy and sell to increase their profits, not to help out their workers

[~TW~]

I agree that it's a foregone conclusion: I believe that the result would be to leave the EU, because majority popular sentiment leans that way.

Unfortunately this is based on the majority of the population having little to no clue of any serious, sober, thoughtful cost-benefit analysis of EU membership. The vast majority of people have absolutely no idea of what the positives and negatives of membership actually entail and fill that vacuum by falling back on popular press sloganeering, vague half-formed ideas and everybody's favourite, gut instinct. A referendum held tomorrow or next week or next month would on that basis be a landslide "No" vote. The only remote possibility of changing this state of affairs would be if the government were to produce, in the form of a leaflet or some such, something which could educate the public in clear, simple, jargon-free language an impartial, disinterested, neutrally-couched explanation of what EU membership means and what exit would mean, delivered to every household in the realm as has been done before on occasion.

Staying in may well be the best option. Coming out may well be the best option. But for Christ's sake, let's have an informed populace capable of making a truly informed decision.

 Well my plonker is plonkerised Shaker has an opinion and he can write.

 So Shaker are you in or are you out.

  ~TW~

[Rhiannon]

Once TTIP is in place any European country outside that will face economic tariffs on steroids. Plus the U.S./ EU regulatory harmony will mean a much restricted market for anything that doesn't comply.

I think some Scandanavian countries are economic partners to the EU without being EU members but I don't see the USA allowing the UK in on those terms. And as we know, economic union often leads to political union.

[L.A.]

Once trade in services is taken into account, about half UK exports go outside the EU."

So about 1/2 is within the EU.

Would it be right and prudent to forego the favourable trading terms we have?

It would be vital for EU countries to trade with us;  we are more successful than they:  they need us.  But if our overseas trade continues to develop as it is, we would be better off in the long term anyway.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that all exports to EU countries would cease if we left, but we would no longer have unrestricted access and might well face new tariff barriers.

But trade with us will remain crucial to the EU countries, and ways round such restrictions would be found, would have to be found, for the benefit of all concerned.

That's a very complacent attitude. particularly in the present economic climate. You can be pretty certain that if we leave there will be calls for protectionism.

Why buy British goods if you can save EU jobs by buying EU goods?

You buy goods that you need and what is in demand.  Any business will buy and sell to increase their profits, not to help out their workers

You have a very limited understanding of commerce Bashful, we don't live in a Soviet style command economy. Every supplier has a struggle to get market share. The customer is King and that customer is generally quite fickle. If EU customers find it cheaper or more convenient to switch from a British supplier to an EU supplier, they will do so.

[BashfulAnthony]

Once trade in services is taken into account, about half UK exports go outside the EU."

So about 1/2 is within the EU.

Would it be right and prudent to forego the favourable trading terms we have?

It would be vital for EU countries to trade with us;  we are more successful than they:  they need us.  But if our overseas trade continues to develop as it is, we would be better off in the long term anyway.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that all exports to EU countries would cease if we left, but we would no longer have unrestricted access and might well face new tariff barriers.

But trade with us will remain crucial to the EU countries, and ways round such restrictions would be found, would have to be found, for the benefit of all concerned.

That's a very complacent attitude. particularly in the present economic climate. You can be pretty certain that if we leave there will be calls for protectionism.

Why buy British goods if you can save EU jobs by buying EU goods?

You buy goods that you need and what is in demand.  Any business will buy and sell to increase their profits, not to help out their workers

You have a very limited understanding of commerce Bashful, we don't live in a Soviet style command economy. Every supplier has a struggle to get market share. The customer is King and that customer is generally quite fickle. If EU customers find it cheaper or more convenient to switch from a British supplier to an EU supplier, they will do so.

That may be; but look again at the ONS figures.  It seems that we are getting an increasing share of the market, and the trend is for that to continue.  That seems to me to be the relevant argument.  As well as that, out of the EU we would be free to make stronger trade deals with other nations, and we would be free to spend the huge UK resources presently levied through EU membership to the advantage of our citizens.  All this would leave us free to improve the British economy and generate more jobs, which we are quite capable of doing.  All the other negative aspects of membership would be no longer issues either.   


 

[ad_orientem]

The EU is jst part of the neo-liberal globalust scheme, designed to make the well-off richer and kerp the less well-off in their place. The UK leaving the EU would therefore be a good thing in the hope that it would mean the beginning of the enx of the EU.

I assume that you mean 'a good thing' in terms of making most of us a lot less rich?

Right! If you mean the elite, then yes, but most, no. The EU has bought in to the austerity myth and most are suffering.

Elite can be a relative word. Those 'poor' EU citizens who are 'suffering' from austerity might be regarded as doing very nicely by many of those outside of the EU.

Yes, I'm sure that's of much comfort to those who are losing lost their jobs or those who are seeing the welfare state gradually being eroded away.

[jakswan]

That may be; but look again at the ONS figures.  It seems that we are getting an increasing share of the market, and the trend is for that to continue.  That seems to me to be the relevant argument.  As well as that, out of the EU we would be free to make stronger trade deals with other nations, and we would be free to spend the huge UK resources presently levied through EU membership to the advantage of our citizens.  All this would leave us free to improve the British economy and generate more jobs, which we are quite capable of doing.  All the other negative aspects of membership would be no longer issues either.   

Replace British with Scottish/EU with UK and that could have been written by the SNP.

I work for a company that imports, factories in China have limited capacity and are looking for long term stable relationships with companies. One set of rules to export into the EU another for independents.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

The EU is just part of the neo-liberal globalist scheme, designed to make the well-off richer and keep the less well-off in their place.

Have you not heard of The conservatives ? They have been in the news rather a lot lately.

[jeremyp]

The EU is just part of the neo-liberal globalist scheme,

Evidence please.

[Owlswing]

Once trade in services is taken into account, about half UK exports go outside the EU."

So about 1/2 is within the EU.

Would it be right and prudent to forego the favourable trading terms we have?

It would be vital for EU countries to trade with us;  we are more successful than they:  they need us.  But if our overseas trade continues to develop as it is, we would be better off in the long term anyway.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that all exports to EU countries would cease if we left, but we would no longer have unrestricted access and might well face new tariff barriers.

This, which nobody seerms to have mentioned, works vice versa, we would not have to grant unrestricted access and special pricing to Germany, France etc.