EU membership referendum debate thread

johnhemming2 · Post by **johnhemming2** » 28 Feb 2016, 09:25

She doesn't know how much the in work benefits are.

AutomaticEarth · Post by **AutomaticEarth** » 28 Feb 2016, 14:26

johnhemming2 wrote:She doesn't know how much the in work benefits are.

True John, but give her some credit - at least the odious Diane Abbott was left quiet

johnhemming2 · Post by **johnhemming2** » 28 Feb 2016, 18:05

That, however, should not be a motivation in politics. We should be trying to working towards what the truth is and how best to achieve objectives.

I am not a great fan of Diane Abbott, but neither do I find her "odious".

The difficulty is that people can get too involved in the tribal aspects of politics which undermines the public interest. (Thus speaks someone who was on the streets canvassing for votes today, however - not for me).

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 28 Feb 2016, 20:36

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 00536.html

Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to form a radical alliance with hard-left anti-austerity parties in the European Parliament to roll back parts of David Cameron’s Brussels renegotiation after the referendum.

The Labour leader, a life-long eurosceptic, has vowed to campaign for Britain to remain in the EU but is fiercely critical of Brussels’s rules enforcing “liberalisation” – a key component of Mr Cameron’s reform package.

johnhemming2 · Post by **johnhemming2** » 28 Feb 2016, 20:55

There are quite a lot of people in the world who believe that 2+2 is not necessarily equal to 4.

Indeed there are a number of political parties that operate on this basis. Jeremy Corbyn is one such politician. So is Yannis Varoufakis and Iglesias in Spain.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 28 Feb 2016, 22:24

Ah, but Jeremy is an MP and John is not.

johnhemming2 · Post by **johnhemming2** » 29 Feb 2016, 06:24

The democratic process does not require either 100% rational politicians nor 100% rational voters. Not should anything be done beyond free debate about this.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 29 Feb 2016, 06:50

I was strongly for Brexit until I saw what the government, and specifically Osbourn, that fully owned flunky of Nigel Lawson, were doing to any sustainability commitments that previous governments had made. They have ditched 9 or 10 of these commitments since coming to power. They would ditch many more if they were not constrained by EU regulations. I do not trust the UK voter to get rid of the Tories next time round as there is no effective party in opposition at the moment, apart from the Scots Nats, nor does it look like there will be one by the time of the next election.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 01 Mar 2016, 03:01

This article, although a little old now, gives the reason why staying in the EU and nationalising the railways are not possible. EU law would almost certainly prevent the nationalisation.

johnhemming2 · Post by **johnhemming2** » 01 Mar 2016, 07:32

kenneal - lagger wrote:EU law would almost certainly prevent the nationalisation.

I presume you mean in the way that the nationalisation of Railtrack by Network Rail was prevented by EU Law.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 01 Mar 2016, 18:03

EU law doesn't prevent partial nationalisation, as in the case of Railtrack, because that doesn't reduce competition. A full nationalisation, bringing the whole of the network into one ownership, would fall foul of EU law. I suggest you read the article above, John.

johnhemming2 · Post by **johnhemming2** » 01 Mar 2016, 18:38

What the article says is that banning private companies completely from running trains would be against EU law.

AutomaticEarth · Post by **AutomaticEarth** » 02 Mar 2016, 22:25

Here is handy guide....if you're an expat living in the EU.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... xpats.html

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 24 Mar 2016, 10:11

Brexit now 2 percentage points in the lead on latest polls, thank god.

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 25 Mar 2016, 13:28

About f***ing time the Left woke up!

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... urosceptic