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The European Union referendum decision

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  • Because they don't live here?

    So why should they then decide what better for me as UK resident?

    Yep, all UK residents should be able to vote.
  • cafcfan said:

    Because they don't live here?

    So why should they then decide what better for me as UK resident?

    So, someone on a one-year secondment from a UK employer to their, say, Frankfurt branch, shouldn't get a say?
    Of course they should and I don't claim that its not a difficult situation or to know what the cut off point of having lived abroad when your right to vote in UK should stop 5,8 or 10
    It's 15 years. But why should it be taken away at all? What does it mean to be a 'citizen' if you cannot vote? Greenie gets pissed off if I talk about myself but there are loads of people abroad like me who:

    - pay UK income tax
    - pay NI (I've completed my 30 years) so will rely on a UK state pension (I wouldn't qualify for one here in CZ)
    - own a property in UK
    - have an aged parent in London to worry about
    - and wider family; I pay for my sister's two kids to go to Uni, otherwise they could not afford the outrageous fees
    - still have half their head in the UK (BBC is where I get most of my news from); so I can answer any question about UK politics you care to throw at me
    - and of course, return at least 5-6 times year to watch Charlton, through thick and thin, and play a part in defending it

    So I'd ask you; why shouldn't I have the right to vote on things which affect all the above. Haven't I earned the right?

    Now, it could be said that someone who buggers off to Australia like my best buddy from Uni, really isn't in the UK at all. But in his case he is I think a long time Oz citizen; and even if not, such people are unlikely to want to vote in the UK. The only ones who vote in the UK are the ones who care enough. Probably 35% of people in the UK won't care enough, yet the country denies the vote to those who are among the most affected?

    Why not, just do what other countries do? Say that if you are a citizen, you have a vote. Period.
  • edited February 2016

    Nicola Sturgeon is supporting remain in, but the Scots could vote tactically to leave as this would help them achieve a second referendum on Independence . Simplistic I know but possible .

    There wouldn't be a second Scottish referendum if all those Scottish tactical votes meant there was a clear (but contrived) leave majority amongst Scottish voters (and the overall vote was to leave too). I'd be grinning for a year if that happened.
  • Nicola Sturgeon is supporting remain in, but the Scots could vote tactically to leave as this would help them achieve a second referendum on Independence . Simplistic I know but possible .

    What would be the tactic here?


  • As I said its not straight forward.

    But why pay income tax and NI to the UK and not CZ the country you live in? Are the UK terms more favourable?
    Yes you own a property in the UK and have elderly family and I can see a reasoned argument that you have contributed and should be able to vote.

    That said you don't deal with on a daily basis the commute on our awful roads and rail systems, you don't sit in our hospitals or visit schools that are throw back to the seventies and badly lacking funds and full to the brim.

    I appreciate the great amount of trade we do through the EU and the ease of which being part of it makes it and the consequences it could have on reduced trade, but I by the same token feel we are wasting vast sums at time when it could be put to better use dealing with our own failings

    I don't know the answer and will listen to yours and plenty of others opinions between now and the vote in the hope come that I can come to the correct conclusion for my family.
  • No but yeah but Prague, seeing as how you're Barry Hearne's best mate you definitely qualify to vote.

    Any news of the appeal hearing continuing?
  • IA said:

    Nicola Sturgeon is supporting remain in, but the Scots could vote tactically to leave as this would help them achieve a second referendum on Independence . Simplistic I know but possible .

    What would be the tactic here?
    If the overall result was to leave the EU the Scots would try to break away because their stated policy is to remain in the EU. They have already said they would demand another referendum .
  • IA said:

    Nicola Sturgeon is supporting remain in, but the Scots could vote tactically to leave as this would help them achieve a second referendum on Independence . Simplistic I know but possible .

    What would be the tactic here?
    If the overall result was to leave the EU the Scots would try to break away because their stated policy is to remain in the EU. They have already said they would demand another referendum .
    But they couldn't demand anything if a majority of Scots voted to leave which might happen if tactical voting got out of hand.
  • IA said:

    Nicola Sturgeon is supporting remain in, but the Scots could vote tactically to leave as this would help them achieve a second referendum on Independence . Simplistic I know but possible .

    What would be the tactic here?
    If the overall result was to leave the EU the Scots would try to break away because their stated policy is to remain in the EU. They have already said they would demand another referendum .
    Yes, but that tactic is predicated on the assumption that the overwhelming majority of Scottish voters would vote to stay in.

    The SNP would then argue that Westminster represented the wishes of Scotland to a lesser degree than was the case in 2014.


  • As I said its not straight forward.

    But why pay income tax and NI to the UK and not CZ the country you live in? Are the UK terms more favourable?

    I pay in both countries, through a double taxation treaty. House rent and savings earnings UK, work income in CZ. Not a tax dodge, but minimises my dealings with the Czech tax office, which can only be a good thing. When it comes to NI, I was told to continue voluntarily, because it wasn't clear how long I would be away. Had I not done so, I wouldn't have had any state pension anywhere, as the Czechs require 35 years.

    Yes you own a property in the UK and have elderly family and I can see a reasoned argument that you have contributed and should be able to vote.

    Appreciated, thanks.

    That said you don't deal with on a daily basis the commute on our awful roads and rail systems, you don't sit in our hospitals or visit schools that are throw back to the seventies and badly lacking funds and full to the brim.


    Well true, but I'm so aware of them (e.g.have to help my sister with her kids Uni fees) that I believe I'm as entitled to vote on those issues as much as anyone else

    I appreciate the great amount of trade we do through the EU and the ease of which being part of it makes it and the consequences it could have on reduced trade, but I by the same token feel we are wasting vast sums at time when it could be put to better use dealing with our own failings

    I don't know the answer and will listen to yours and plenty of others opinions between now and the vote in the hope come that I can come to the correct conclusion for my family.


    Which is all we can all do.


  • Sponsored links:


  • The UK will vote "out".

    There will be lots of talk about trade and the pound etc etc, but the public will vote on a single issue:

    IMMIGRATION

    The public will see that even the mighty Germany is in a panic about the 1.5m extra population it has all of a sudden, and is making noises about sanctions against neighbour countries for not controlling the flow.

    Smaller EU states have restricted the use of public transport by migrants, or put up fences !

    Denmark is making radical plans to deal with immigration and France has "closed it's borders" - in a free economic area where you can't close your borders !

    EU member states are making up their own local rules as we go along, meanwhile Poland says it will vote against UK plans to restrict child benefit payments to children that ACTUALLY live in the UK - I wonder why !!!!

    So .............it's already one rule for the EU and another for UK.
    The public can see this and will vote accordingly.
    The UKIP vote in the last election was huge - those folk won't have changed their mind in a year.

    Estimated UK population by 2030 is 70+ million.
  • If the EU was all about developing a free trade bloc, then I am in.

    But the underlying aim is to create a federal Europe ...an aim that I believe is unsustainable and probably unachievable.

    My current feeling is that I will vote out.
  • fuck what the SNP think or do
  • I want Scotland to be part of the UK. Historical affinity.

    I don't, however, understand how the Scots can want to be independent whilst remaining a member of the European Union. A total oxymoron.
  • I want Scotland to be part of the UK. Historical affinity.

    I don't, however, understand how the Scots can want to be independent whilst remaining a member of the European Union. A total oxymoron.

    One of the first rules of nationalism is to identify yourself against another national identity.

    And, then again, some might say that Scotland has an historical affinity with France and, in the highlands and islands, Ireland and Norway...
  • Important moment in Parliament regarding the EU debate...

    http://youtu.be/HZPTZuwwHng

    Andy Burnham's reaction is priceless.
  • I want Scotland to be part of the UK. Historical affinity.

    I don't, however, understand how the Scots can want to be independent whilst remaining a member of the European Union. A total oxymoron.

    Not really. Are Germans not German ? Are the Greeks not Greek ?

    Very easy to be Scottish and for Scotland to be in the EU. I wanted Scotland to stay in the UK but if the UK votes to leave the EU but a majority of Scots (or Welsh, or Northern Irish) don't then I hope they have the opportunity to have another referendum. I think the result would be very different this time.
  • se9addick said:

    I want Scotland to be part of the UK. Historical affinity.

    I don't, however, understand how the Scots can want to be independent whilst remaining a member of the European Union. A total oxymoron.

    Not really. Are Germans not German ? Are the Greeks not Greek ?

    Very easy to be Scottish and for Scotland to be in the EU. I wanted Scotland to stay in the UK but if the UK votes to leave the EU but a majority of Scots (or Welsh, or Northern Irish) don't then I hope they have the opportunity to have another referendum. I think the result would be very different this time.
    What if Tower Hamlets votes in majority to stay, should it have a referendum too?

    It's such a stupid concept. If we opt to stay in the EEA after leaving the EU then Scotland won't be affected much anyway. The SNP's desire to stay in the EU is almost entirely political and their support for a federal Europe, as opposed to the benefits Scotland gets for being in Europe (and would largely continue to get if the UK remained in the EEA).
  • Fiiish said:

    se9addick said:

    I want Scotland to be part of the UK. Historical affinity.

    I don't, however, understand how the Scots can want to be independent whilst remaining a member of the European Union. A total oxymoron.

    Not really. Are Germans not German ? Are the Greeks not Greek ?

    Very easy to be Scottish and for Scotland to be in the EU. I wanted Scotland to stay in the UK but if the UK votes to leave the EU but a majority of Scots (or Welsh, or Northern Irish) don't then I hope they have the opportunity to have another referendum. I think the result would be very different this time.
    What if Tower Hamlets votes in majority to stay, should it have a referendum too?

    It's such a stupid concept. If we opt to stay in the EEA after leaving the EU then Scotland won't be affected much anyway. The SNP's desire to stay in the EU is almost entirely political and their support for a federal Europe, as opposed to the benefits Scotland gets for being in Europe (and would largely continue to get if the UK remained in the EEA).
    What do you mean by that? That their views mirror opinion polls which show a consistent clear majority among Scots for staying in the EU, and indeed for a stronger State than they believe Westminster allows them?

    Perish the thought that they try to represent their electorate, eh?

  • Sponsored links:


  • Fiiish said:

    se9addick said:

    I want Scotland to be part of the UK. Historical affinity.

    I don't, however, understand how the Scots can want to be independent whilst remaining a member of the European Union. A total oxymoron.

    Not really. Are Germans not German ? Are the Greeks not Greek ?

    Very easy to be Scottish and for Scotland to be in the EU. I wanted Scotland to stay in the UK but if the UK votes to leave the EU but a majority of Scots (or Welsh, or Northern Irish) don't then I hope they have the opportunity to have another referendum. I think the result would be very different this time.
    What if Tower Hamlets votes in majority to stay, should it have a referendum too?

    It's such a stupid concept. If we opt to stay in the EEA after leaving the EU then Scotland won't be affected much anyway. The SNP's desire to stay in the EU is almost entirely political and their support for a federal Europe, as opposed to the benefits Scotland gets for being in Europe (and would largely continue to get if the UK remained in the EEA).
    What do you mean by that? That their views mirror opinion polls which show a consistent clear majority among Scots for staying in the EU, and indeed for a stronger State than they believe Westminster allows them?

    Perish the thought that they try to represent their electorate, eh?

    Political as in the EU is moving towards a centralised, socialism style model which matches the SNP's left-leaning politics.
  • Fiiish said:

    Important moment in Parliament regarding the EU debate...

    http://youtu.be/HZPTZuwwHng

    Andy Burnham's reaction is priceless.

    "Who are you ?" was brilliant. As was "tuck your shirt in" for Boris.
  • Fiiish said:

    Fiiish said:

    se9addick said:

    I want Scotland to be part of the UK. Historical affinity.

    I don't, however, understand how the Scots can want to be independent whilst remaining a member of the European Union. A total oxymoron.

    Not really. Are Germans not German ? Are the Greeks not Greek ?

    Very easy to be Scottish and for Scotland to be in the EU. I wanted Scotland to stay in the UK but if the UK votes to leave the EU but a majority of Scots (or Welsh, or Northern Irish) don't then I hope they have the opportunity to have another referendum. I think the result would be very different this time.
    What if Tower Hamlets votes in majority to stay, should it have a referendum too?

    It's such a stupid concept. If we opt to stay in the EEA after leaving the EU then Scotland won't be affected much anyway. The SNP's desire to stay in the EU is almost entirely political and their support for a federal Europe, as opposed to the benefits Scotland gets for being in Europe (and would largely continue to get if the UK remained in the EEA).
    What do you mean by that? That their views mirror opinion polls which show a consistent clear majority among Scots for staying in the EU, and indeed for a stronger State than they believe Westminster allows them?

    Perish the thought that they try to represent their electorate, eh?

    Political as in the EU is moving towards a centralised, socialism style model which matches the SNP's left-leaning politics.
    Well, that seems to be broadly what the Scottish people want too, in varying degrees. You are aware of the Tory party's recent track record in Scottish elections, right?

    I would like to see you talking like this about the issue with a group of Scots in a Scottish pub, although because I am sure you are actually a good bloke save for your bizarre politics, I'd want to get you out of there before the third pint .

  • edited February 2016
    I must point out that Roland Duchâtelet is a huge supporter of Open VLD which is a political party in Belguim, Roland stood as a candidate and they also support a United States of Europe.

    Surely a good reason to vote out? lol
  • Fiiish said:

    Fiiish said:

    se9addick said:

    I want Scotland to be part of the UK. Historical affinity.

    I don't, however, understand how the Scots can want to be independent whilst remaining a member of the European Union. A total oxymoron.

    Not really. Are Germans not German ? Are the Greeks not Greek ?

    Very easy to be Scottish and for Scotland to be in the EU. I wanted Scotland to stay in the UK but if the UK votes to leave the EU but a majority of Scots (or Welsh, or Northern Irish) don't then I hope they have the opportunity to have another referendum. I think the result would be very different this time.
    What if Tower Hamlets votes in majority to stay, should it have a referendum too?

    It's such a stupid concept. If we opt to stay in the EEA after leaving the EU then Scotland won't be affected much anyway. The SNP's desire to stay in the EU is almost entirely political and their support for a federal Europe, as opposed to the benefits Scotland gets for being in Europe (and would largely continue to get if the UK remained in the EEA).
    What do you mean by that? That their views mirror opinion polls which show a consistent clear majority among Scots for staying in the EU, and indeed for a stronger State than they believe Westminster allows them?

    Perish the thought that they try to represent their electorate, eh?

    Political as in the EU is moving towards a centralised, socialism style model which matches the SNP's left-leaning politics.
    Well, that seems to be broadly what the Scottish people want too, in varying degrees. You are aware of the Tory party's recent track record in Scottish elections, right?

    I would like to see you talking like this about the issue with a group of Scots in a Scottish pub, although because I am sure you are actually a good bloke save for your bizarre politics, I'd want to get you out of there before the third pint .

    "Bizarre politics"? Care to elaborate which of my views seem to warrant this tag?

    Not that I talk politics in any pub because there are generally more interesting things to discuss but given my sweaty heritage and extended family I've been exposed to a fairly wide and robust set of views on both independence and the EU referendum.
  • Fiiish said:

    Fiiish said:

    Fiiish said:

    se9addick said:

    I want Scotland to be part of the UK. Historical affinity.

    I don't, however, understand how the Scots can want to be independent whilst remaining a member of the European Union. A total oxymoron.

    Not really. Are Germans not German ? Are the Greeks not Greek ?

    Very easy to be Scottish and for Scotland to be in the EU. I wanted Scotland to stay in the UK but if the UK votes to leave the EU but a majority of Scots (or Welsh, or Northern Irish) don't then I hope they have the opportunity to have another referendum. I think the result would be very different this time.
    What if Tower Hamlets votes in majority to stay, should it have a referendum too?

    It's such a stupid concept. If we opt to stay in the EEA after leaving the EU then Scotland won't be affected much anyway. The SNP's desire to stay in the EU is almost entirely political and their support for a federal Europe, as opposed to the benefits Scotland gets for being in Europe (and would largely continue to get if the UK remained in the EEA).
    What do you mean by that? That their views mirror opinion polls which show a consistent clear majority among Scots for staying in the EU, and indeed for a stronger State than they believe Westminster allows them?

    Perish the thought that they try to represent their electorate, eh?

    Political as in the EU is moving towards a centralised, socialism style model which matches the SNP's left-leaning politics.
    Well, that seems to be broadly what the Scottish people want too, in varying degrees. You are aware of the Tory party's recent track record in Scottish elections, right?

    I would like to see you talking like this about the issue with a group of Scots in a Scottish pub, although because I am sure you are actually a good bloke save for your bizarre politics, I'd want to get you out of there before the third pint .

    "Bizarre politics"? Care to elaborate which of my views seem to warrant this tag?

    Not that I talk politics in any pub because there are generally more interesting things to discuss but given my sweaty heritage and extended family I've been exposed to a fairly wide and robust set of views on both independence and the EU referendum.
    Well I find them bizarre :-) but I really would like to be there see you take your arguments to a group of Scots. They've been politically estranged from England since Thatcher. Surely you accept that reality, especially if you have friends (as I do) and family from up there.

  • Fiiish said:

    Fiiish said:

    se9addick said:

    I want Scotland to be part of the UK. Historical affinity.

    I don't, however, understand how the Scots can want to be independent whilst remaining a member of the European Union. A total oxymoron.

    Not really. Are Germans not German ? Are the Greeks not Greek ?

    Very easy to be Scottish and for Scotland to be in the EU. I wanted Scotland to stay in the UK but if the UK votes to leave the EU but a majority of Scots (or Welsh, or Northern Irish) don't then I hope they have the opportunity to have another referendum. I think the result would be very different this time.
    What if Tower Hamlets votes in majority to stay, should it have a referendum too?

    It's such a stupid concept. If we opt to stay in the EEA after leaving the EU then Scotland won't be affected much anyway. The SNP's desire to stay in the EU is almost entirely political and their support for a federal Europe, as opposed to the benefits Scotland gets for being in Europe (and would largely continue to get if the UK remained in the EEA).
    What do you mean by that? That their views mirror opinion polls which show a consistent clear majority among Scots for staying in the EU, and indeed for a stronger State than they believe Westminster allows them?

    Perish the thought that they try to represent their electorate, eh?

    Political as in the EU is moving towards a centralised, socialism style model which matches the SNP's left-leaning politics.
    Which is what the Scottish people voted for at the last opportunity. They certainly didn't vote for the Tories so telling them they deserve a Tory ruled country outside the EU is pretty much the opposite of democracy.

    I think Britain will stay in, if it doesn't Scotland will.
  • edited February 2016
    se9addick said:

    Fiiish said:

    Fiiish said:

    se9addick said:

    I want Scotland to be part of the UK. Historical affinity.

    I don't, however, understand how the Scots can want to be independent whilst remaining a member of the European Union. A total oxymoron.

    Not really. Are Germans not German ? Are the Greeks not Greek ?

    Very easy to be Scottish and for Scotland to be in the EU. I wanted Scotland to stay in the UK but if the UK votes to leave the EU but a majority of Scots (or Welsh, or Northern Irish) don't then I hope they have the opportunity to have another referendum. I think the result would be very different this time.
    What if Tower Hamlets votes in majority to stay, should it have a referendum too?

    It's such a stupid concept. If we opt to stay in the EEA after leaving the EU then Scotland won't be affected much anyway. The SNP's desire to stay in the EU is almost entirely political and their support for a federal Europe, as opposed to the benefits Scotland gets for being in Europe (and would largely continue to get if the UK remained in the EEA).
    What do you mean by that? That their views mirror opinion polls which show a consistent clear majority among Scots for staying in the EU, and indeed for a stronger State than they believe Westminster allows them?

    Perish the thought that they try to represent their electorate, eh?

    Political as in the EU is moving towards a centralised, socialism style model which matches the SNP's left-leaning politics.
    Which is what the Scottish people voted for at the last opportunity. They certainly didn't vote for the Tories so telling them they deserve a Tory ruled country outside the EU is pretty much the opposite of democracy.

    I think Britain will stay in, if it doesn't Scotland will.
    The SNP are not being voted for because of their pro-EU credentials since the Scottish Labour and Lib Dems could equally claim those same credentials and yet both were convincingly beaten. If the Scots were really concerned about leaving the EU, they should have voted Labour who then would have had at least a chance at forming a Government, since they were the only other party apart from the Tories of forming a government and then scrapping the referendum vote.

    It's hard to gauge how badly the average Scottish voter wants to stay in the EU. Nearly every argument that could be made for staying in the EU can be made for staying in the UK, then there are all the good reasons for staying in the UK compared to what a complete disaster independence would have been.

    I do sometimes wonder if the vocal left in politics is made up entirely of 5 year olds. The Tories have only been in government for 6 years yet the vocal left keep moaning about Tory-ruled England as if it has been ages of rule that will never end.
  • Fiiish said:

    Fiiish said:

    Fiiish said:

    se9addick said:

    I want Scotland to be part of the UK. Historical affinity.

    I don't, however, understand how the Scots can want to be independent whilst remaining a member of the European Union. A total oxymoron.

    Not really. Are Germans not German ? Are the Greeks not Greek ?

    Very easy to be Scottish and for Scotland to be in the EU. I wanted Scotland to stay in the UK but if the UK votes to leave the EU but a majority of Scots (or Welsh, or Northern Irish) don't then I hope they have the opportunity to have another referendum. I think the result would be very different this time.
    What if Tower Hamlets votes in majority to stay, should it have a referendum too?

    It's such a stupid concept. If we opt to stay in the EEA after leaving the EU then Scotland won't be affected much anyway. The SNP's desire to stay in the EU is almost entirely political and their support for a federal Europe, as opposed to the benefits Scotland gets for being in Europe (and would largely continue to get if the UK remained in the EEA).
    What do you mean by that? That their views mirror opinion polls which show a consistent clear majority among Scots for staying in the EU, and indeed for a stronger State than they believe Westminster allows them?

    Perish the thought that they try to represent their electorate, eh?

    Political as in the EU is moving towards a centralised, socialism style model which matches the SNP's left-leaning politics.
    Well, that seems to be broadly what the Scottish people want too, in varying degrees. You are aware of the Tory party's recent track record in Scottish elections, right?

    I would like to see you talking like this about the issue with a group of Scots in a Scottish pub, although because I am sure you are actually a good bloke save for your bizarre politics, I'd want to get you out of there before the third pint .

    "Bizarre politics"? Care to elaborate which of my views seem to warrant this tag?

    Not that I talk politics in any pub because there are generally more interesting things to discuss but given my sweaty heritage and extended family I've been exposed to a fairly wide and robust set of views on both independence and the EU referendum.
    Well I find them bizarre :-) but I really would like to be there see you take your arguments to a group of Scots. They've been politically estranged from England since Thatcher. Surely you accept that reality, especially if you have friends (as I do) and family from up there.

    It doesn't help when the devolved Parliament has been actively pushing propaganda blaming Westminster for all of Scotland's ills for years now, even though most of Scotland's problems today are devolved matters and due to years of cack-handed governance by equally cack-handed cretins. I often see Scots who are centre or right of centre bemoaning the lack of any decent parties to vote for as the Tories are such a toxic brand, but Scotland, whilst more left-leaning, is certainly not a haven of socialists and Corbynistas - nearly 1 in 3 people voted for parties to the right of Labour and the SNP.

    Again I haven't seen any real indication that those who voted No last time would demand another referendum in case of Brexit. All the same arguments would apply.
  • edited February 2016

    The UK will vote "out".

    There will be lots of talk about trade and the pound etc etc, but the public will vote on a single issue:

    IMMIGRATION

    The public will see that even the mighty Germany is in a panic about the 1.5m extra population it has all of a sudden, and is making noises about sanctions against neighbour countries for not controlling the flow.

    Smaller EU states have restricted the use of public transport by migrants, or put up fences !

    Denmark is making radical plans to deal with immigration and France has "closed it's borders" - in a free economic area where you can't close your borders !

    EU member states are making up their own local rules as we go along, meanwhile Poland says it will vote against UK plans to restrict child benefit payments to children that ACTUALLY live in the UK - I wonder why !!!!

    So .............it's already one rule for the EU and another for UK.
    The public can see this and will vote accordingly.
    The UKIP vote in the last election was huge - those folk won't have changed their mind in a year.

    Estimated UK population by 2030 is 70+ million.

    You went to war with Iraq and you thought the only price tag would be measured in dollars and cents and pounds and pence and the lives of a few hundred (thousand) who deserved better?

    Welcome to paying for your share.

    If any country should be familiar with the costs of foreign wars and occupations, it should be Britain. And on that same note, if any country should be lauded for their track record of assimilating immigrants (sometimes in spite of racist rejection), it should also be Britain.
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