UK to hold referendum on EU membership in 2017 - business chiefs urge early start to campaign
30 replies, posted
This will be one of the big issues over the next two years. Cameron will first try to ~renegotiate~ our membership before holding an in-or-out referendum on the European Union.
[url]http://www.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2015/may/08/david-camerons-next-big-battle-the-eu-referendum-and-a-possible-brexitf[/url]
[quote]As the City of London celebrates a Conservative victory, it must also face a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union. That poll must happen by the end of 2017 if David Cameron is to honour the Tories' manifesto commitment. The prospect will now dominate debate in the business world until polling day.
Not every business leader wants the UK to stay in the EU, but it is reasonably clear that most do. In the City and financial establishment, opinion is even more one-sided in favour of membership. Expect to see a full-throttle lobbying campaign, accompanied by dire warnings that investment in the UK is at risk and that the City's status as a global financial centre is under threat. It will make business lobbying for a no vote in the Scottish referendum look like a tea party.[/quote]
[url]http://news.sky.com/story/1480179/ftse-giants-urge-instant-start-to-eu-campaign[/url]
[quote]The bosses of major British companies demanded an immediate campaign to keep the UK in the European Union (EU) as it emerged that the Conservatives were on course for an overall majority in the General Election.
Speaking to Sky News, the chairmen and chief executives of several FTSE-100 companies said it was crucial that efforts to promote the benefits of EU membership began straight away even if a referendum would not take place until 2017.[/quote]
Following his comments about the "Anglo-Saxons" tearing Europe apart, I think Juncker will throw Cameron a bone so he can present something positive to the public and return a 'no' in the referendum. In return, I would imagine he would want assurances that they will keep quiet for a while.
This'll be a great way to distract the public whilst they forget about rest of the manifesto.
[QUOTE=Wiggles;47686810]This'll be a great way to distract the public whilst they forget about rest of the manifesto.[/QUOTE]
I think it is important to note that Cameron doesn't actually want to leave the EU. He just doesn't want to lose the far-right voters who are demanding a referendum.
Probably won't be the only one in the years to come.
[QUOTE][img]http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/05/08/18/2877954300000578-3072751-image-m-8_1431107445181.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
Oh great now we're not gonna stop hearing about it for 2 years
Its going to be the Scottish Referendum all over again.
[QUOTE=Vasili;47687534]Its going to be the Scottish Referendum all over again.[/QUOTE]
Let's hope we stay in the Union like last time then.
I'm glad we'll finally be able to isolate ourselves from those damn continentals just as God intended
[QUOTE=MrEndangered;47688450]Daily Mail/The Sun/Daily Express Nuclear Bullshit Missiles incoming![/QUOTE]Load the straight bananas! Man the immigrant cannons! Für [del]Deutschland[/del] Europe!
[QUOTE=butt2089;47686807]Following his comments about the "Anglo-Saxons" tearing Europe apart, I think Juncker will throw Cameron a bone so he can present something positive to the public and return a 'no' in the referendum. In return, I would imagine he would want assurances that they will keep quiet for a while.[/QUOTE]
It would always have been a 'No', no matter what the media and politicians will tell you. On the whole, the British public aren't anti-EU. They just think there's too much really dumb and needlessly expensive ideas within it. Like the billions spent on 2 Parliament buildings. Why do that?
I think that an EU referendum could actually be pretty close in this country, whilst personally I would vote to leave I think that Britain would vote to stay in narrowly. The Scottish Independence referendum and indeed this recent general election shows that there's always a late swing to the status quo and I think that an EU referendum would be no different.
If England votes to leave and Scotland votes to stay, there'll be another referendum on the go...
[QUOTE=Flapadar;47691321]If England votes to leave and Scotland votes to stay, there'll be another referendum on the go...[/QUOTE]
Let's hope we all vote to stay in that case, to nip the possibility of the second in the bud.
[QUOTE=Flapadar;47691321]If England votes to leave and Scotland votes to stay, there'll be another referendum on the go...[/QUOTE]
The UK wants to leave the EU because it's distant, undemocratic and unrepresentative
Scotland wants to leave the UK because it's distant, undemocratic and unrepresentative
Except Scotland wants to leave the UK but stay in the EU... :v:
[QUOTE=The mouse;47691456]The UK wants to leave the EU because it's distant, undemocratic and unrepresentative
Scotland wants to leave the UK because it's distant, undemocratic and unrepresentative
Except Scotland wants to leave the UK but stay in the EU... :v:[/QUOTE]
Yeah wow holy shit it's almost like there's multiple perspectives on the whole deal and that not all of them agree with yours.
[QUOTE=The mouse;47691456]The UK wants to leave the EU because it's distant, undemocratic and unrepresentative
Scotland wants to leave the UK because it's distant, undemocratic and unrepresentative
Except Scotland wants to leave the UK but stay in the EU... :v:[/QUOTE]
The difference between Scotland and the UK is much different than the UK and the EU.
To be fair the union does have it's flaws. Maybe the UK will restore some sovereignty to the individual nations.
i would not have a problem if all national boundaries were destroyed tomorrow and europe became one enormous country
[QUOTE=Cloak Raider;47692187]i would not have a problem if all national boundaries were destroyed tomorrow and europe became one enormous country[/QUOTE]
I fucking would.
[QUOTE=Cloak Raider;47692187]i would not have a problem if all national boundaries were destroyed tomorrow and europe became one enormous country[/QUOTE]
If it happened that quickly it would be a disaster...
Good, let the people decide for themselves what they want. I have a feeling that if it does fall in the favor of leaving the EU, though, it won't happen, unfortunately.
I don't think the public are smart enough to decide if we should stay in the EU.
[QUOTE=RainbowStalin;47693202]I don't think the public are smart enough to decide if we should stay in the EU.[/QUOTE]
i think they are. a vast majority of [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proposed_referendum_on_United_Kingdom_membership_of_the_European_Union#Standard_polling_on_EU_membership"]polls[/URL] (ha ha that could mean anything) taken this year show that there is an overwhelming support for staying in the EU, and that if the EU were willing to renegotiate their policies we are unhappy with (which they most likely will), a huge portion of 'leave' voters become confused as to whether or not they even want to leave the EU or not
I like how people are dismissing the Scottish referendum and hoping another won't happen when the SNP won 56 of the 59 seats in Scotland.
The turnout was also 71.1% so the notion of it being a protest vote is out of the question.
[QUOTE=Inafinus :3;47695435]I like how people are dismissing the Scottish referendum and hoping another won't happen when the SNP won 56 of the 59 seats in Scotland.
The turnout was also 71.1% so the notion of it being a protest vote is out of the question.[/QUOTE]
It really ought to be dismissed, considering it was coined as a 'once in a generation' vote, you can't just redo it a year later because you don't like the outcome. Plus, the referendum turnout was 84.5% with 55% voting no, in the election 50% voted SNP on a 71.1% turnout. If another referendum were to happen then it would likely be yet another no.
[QUOTE=Inafinus :3;47695435]I like how people are dismissing the Scottish referendum and hoping another won't happen when the SNP won 56 of the 59 seats in Scotland.
The turnout was also 71.1% so the notion of it being a protest vote is out of the question.[/QUOTE]
People vote for the SNP because of their policies too, not just because of the independence thing.
I would strongly oppose an independence referendum held before 2020.
It's pretty clear that people who want it sooner don't respect democracy, and will just keep yelling for it to be given out after every "no" until there is a majority yes vote.
[QUOTE=butt2089;47695723][b]considering it was coined as a 'once in a generation' vote[/b][/QUOTE]
Alex Salmond said this, who is no longer the party leader of the SNP (and whilst I respect him, he does talk a lot of shite sometimes). In the coming years, due to another Tory government, support for the SNP will most likely increase due to Scotland's favour for left wing politics.
Unless there is a radical reform of the way Britain works, such as abolishment of the House of Lords and federalisation with the latter being discussed, the case for independence will probably grow stronger.
I also believe that independence for Scotland is somewhat of an inevitability.
While I vouch for independence, I also do not believe that one should be held so soon unless the government doesn't deliver its promises for Scotland and/or the UK votes to leave the EU (which is highly unlikely).
I'm almost starting to hope that Scotland does leave, I'm tempted to move there if they do.
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