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The real reason the Tories and Labour want us to stay in the EU

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Replies: 402
By:
basilbrush
When: 12 May 16 14:34
The E.U. is collapsing in front of your eyes, with half of the E.U. nations already calling for their own referendums. Portugal, Greece, Spain, Italy and France have severe financial problems, and eastern Europe is refusing to take refugees. The E.U. is going to implode socially and economically within the next few years, why would anyone vote to remain in something that is going to fail completely very soon.
By:
NOW WE KNOW
When: 12 May 16 14:42
Spot on basilbrush. We have one chance to escape a lunatic asylum.
By:
basilbrush
When: 12 May 16 14:54
NOW WE KNOW....I find it almost incomprehensible that right minded people could view the situation any other way. The biggest surprise given the rapid decline of the E.U. and the huge problems it now faces, is that Cameron hasnt done a complete U-Turn based on the latest situation and joined the LEAVE camp. Any indigenous Brits who have children or grandchildren have to vote LEAVE, or talk their loved ones into emigrating to NZ, Australia, Canada Etc There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that staying in the E.U, will ultimately lead to the demise of the UK for a number of reasons.
By:
kavvie
When: 12 May 16 14:57
you all got a great opportunity to make big money so..3/1 to leave with all the big firms?
By:
NOW WE KNOW
When: 12 May 16 15:07
Sadly kavvie the debating chamber only has one set of players. The vote will be Yes to stay in as that is what the media are pushing and then you have the fear campaign and chuck in the status quo.

It will be a catastrophic mistake to stay in this complete and utter mess that is on the edge of total breakdown.
By:
georgebakerfanclub
When: 12 May 16 15:09
A lot of the stay in brigade don't seem to have made their judgment on person experience just what the banks and big business have told them. The last thing this country needs is more growth. We have not got the infrastructure to support it. Simple thing like travel is becoming impossible, every journey is becoming a nightmare. It's fine if the have a private jet or a helicopter otherwise forget it.

We need to reduce the population to let the health and education and housing system catch up. the only way to do this is by the control of our borders and spend more on infrastructure but as soon as any political party tries to sort thing out they come up against the socialist unions who block any modernization as it might effect their members. Try to make improvements to education the teacher go out on strike try to give the public a 7 day NHS so you don't have to take time off for clinic appointments the doctors go on strike. If you agree with that it's fine. but staying in the EU will only make things ten time worse.
By:
kavvie
When: 12 May 16 15:12
id have an open mind on it.but listening to the stay and go sides it seems the stay side are making more sense.im not saying its the right thing to do but just the perception people are getting..the stay side are more convincing
By:
Oldgit1
When: 14 May 16 21:57
Brexit The Movie

http://www.brexitthemovie.com/
By:
eric_morris
When: 15 May 16 09:41
Excellent post oldgit just watched it and agree with it all. Full of factual information. It concentrates on Democracy as being the real issue (no mention of mass immigration which is being used for wage compression on behalf of multinational companies) and the power we are giving away to the EU. It also details how multinational companies benefit in terms of the over regulation in EU.

Most important vote in my lifetime thats for sure. I think the uninformed public will vote to remain which is very sad. There will be a lot of Brits of all creeds and colours leaving these shores to find a better life (just as EU immigrants are when coming here) elsewhere in countries such as Australia in the next decade. I might be one of them.
By:
Marcce
When: 15 May 16 11:51
No way I was watching over an hour of that, knowing what it was likely to be like.

I limited myself to just watching the bit about Switzerland and the bit about the new Industrial Revolution. The bit about Switzerland completely ignores the fact that it's economy was helped by a series of measures brought in back at the start of the 2000's. Something which the UK is free to do. It also carefully fails to mention that Switzerland is bound by free movement of people as part of the trade deal with the EU. something which is a key issue for many of the most vocal outers.

The Industrial Revolution thing harks back to what Britain was like in the 19th century. Yep very relevant to today that is when UK manufacturing and industry has been decimated, not by EU membership but by the fact that countries in other parts of the world can do it cheaper.

Eric I love the way you keep referring to the "uninformed public". With all due respect, your contributions on here are very much 6th form debating society level.
By:
eric_morris
When: 15 May 16 14:11
Marcce, you have already made your mind up which is fine but please dont criticise me for revealing the true agenda of politicians and what we should be discussing rather than what they want us to discuss.
By:
eric_morris
When: 15 May 16 14:15
You admitted earlier you hadn't even read my first post before you started commenting. I think you need to read the details before feeling qualified to comment on my views. There are a lot of people who will only learn what is going to happen when the remain vote wins and the moves towards federalism accelerates as a result. Doubt you'll be on here trying to defend what you want to bring upon us all when it actually happens.
I will leave you to your views good luck with them the great thing is we currently have a democracy where all views are welcome. Make the most of it.
By:
NOW WE KNOW
When: 15 May 16 14:21
What happens after the poll whatever the result is not clear in terms of employment and standards of living. What is clear as the OP has just covered is a desire for greater federalism in Europe and this will be a disaster. European countries are for the most part hugely inefficient and have massive public sectors that are unaffordable. We need less government or more freedom for countries and people to thrive without state interference.

That is what this vote is really about.
By:
Marcce
When: 15 May 16 14:46
No eric you have obviously made your mind up but worse than that you decided to broadcast what you think on the Betfair forum in an attempt to influence others.

And no I didn't say I hadn't read the original post before commenting, I said I wasn't responding to that directly when you replied to one of my comments. So yes I'm perfectly qualified to comment on the original post which I'll again state is largely nonsense imo.

By the same degree, should the vote to be to leave and the economy becomes a basket case as a result, I take it you'll be defending what you'll have brought on us all as well then?
By:
Oldgit1
When: 15 May 16 16:10
Marcce:
You should watch the section on the post war German recovery.
By:
eric_morris
When: 15 May 16 17:01
Marcce, if I can help expose the real agendas of politicians then I am free to do so in our current democracy. It sounds like that offends you which might explain your acceptance of our democracy being eroded by the EU and therefore freedom of speech and the rights to determine our own laws. You should be happy as you are going to get that and you wont be able to vote the Eurocrats out who will be replacing your currently elected politicians. Oh joy well done mate.
By:
Marcce
When: 16 May 16 12:57
Marcce, you have already made your mind up which is fine but please dont criticise me for revealing the true agenda of politicians and what we should be discussing rather than what they want us to discuss.

So which one of us is the offended one eric?

And yes I'll certainly criticise you for the arrogance of telling everyone what we should be discussing alone let alone much of the stuff you've written besides.
By:
Spirit
When: 25 May 16 19:12
If we were not in the EU and the vote was about joining and giving up our democracy, with the mess the EU is in at the moment, would anybody really want to join.
By:
Oldgit1
When: 28 May 16 11:07
Eastbourne voters want out!

http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/eastbourne-mp-to-reveal-eu-views-after-hosting-debate-1-7405172

The debate, held at the Congress Theatre and hosted by Mrs Ansell, saw speakers from both sides lay out their arguments on membership of the EU.
Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan and Checkatrade founder Kevin Byrne spoke in favour of leaving the EU, while Liberal Democrat peer Jonathan Marks and business chief David Sears spoke in favour of remaining. The panel was also joined by journalist and broadcaster Cole Morton, an undecided voter. 
In a show-of-hands vote before the debate began, the majority of the audience indicated they planned to vote to leave on June 23.
In his opening remarks, Lord Marks said leaving the EU would have a huge impact on the UK’s economy and that he didn’t believe the UK would be able to get a new trade deal.
He said, “To do a trade deal with us, each member state would have to agree to it and that, just after we have kicked them in the teeth and with their best interests elsewhere, is unlikely.”

As he spoke, members of the audience shouted over his speech with cries of ‘rubbish’ and ‘liar’.
He said, “To do a trade deal with us, each member state would have to agree to it and that, just after we have kicked them in the teeth and with their best interests elsewhere, is unlikely.”

As he spoke, members of the audience shouted over his speech with cries of ‘rubbish’ and ‘liar’. 
Mr Marks’ argument was also criticised by Vote Leave campaigner Daniel Hannan in his opening statement.
Mr Hannan said, “We heard the same arguments from the same people when debating whether to join the Euro. Not only were they wrong then, but what they said would happen to the pound happened to the Euro.” 
Mr Hannan also said the EU restricted UK trade and the UK would be better off making all its own policy decisions.
After the opening remarks, the panel responded to a number of questions which had been submitted in advance by members of the audience.
The panel debated a range of topics including the economic impact of leaving and the effect the EU’s farming and fisheries policies have had on Eastbourne. 
Kevin Byrne said the EU fisheries policy has had a huge negative impact on the British fishing industry.
Lord Marks said he acknowledged the fishing policy had an impact but said it had protected the industry from exhausting its supply.

The panel also answered questions on migration.
Mr Hannan said that by leaving the EU, the UK could have greater control over its borders and that even if the UK maintained freedom of movement, the pull factor of citizenship would be diminished.#
Mr Marks’ argument was also criticised by Vote Leave campaigner Daniel Hannan in his opening statement.
Mr Hannan said, “We heard the same arguments from the same people when debating whether to join the Euro. Not only were they wrong then, but what they said would happen to the pound happened to the Euro.”
r Hannan also said the EU restricted UK trade and the UK would be better off making all its own policy decisions.
After the opening remarks, the panel responded to a number of questions which had been submitted in advance by members of the audience.
The panel debated a range of topics including the economic impact of leaving and the effect the EU’s farming and fisheries policies have had on Eastbourne.
Kevin Byrne said the EU fisheries policy has had a huge negative impact on the British fishing industry.
Lord Marks said he acknowledged the fishing policy had an impact but said it had protected the industry from exhausting its supply.
The panel also answered questions on migration.
Mr Hannan said that by leaving the EU, the UK could have greater control over its borders and that even if the UK maintained freedom of movement, the pull factor of citizenship would be diminished.
By:
NOW WE KNOW
When: 28 May 16 11:13
France on the brink of a general strike. Greece still living on handouts. Portugal,  Spain and Italy all crippled with debt and unemployment.

If you vote to stay in this quagmire you are like a passenger on the Titanic refusing a helicopter lift off the ship. Total utter madness, even the French want out!
By:
Marcce
When: 28 May 16 11:34
There should be just one thing that stands out from that piece but of course the leavers won't notice it. To help them out here it is

and that even if the UK maintained freedom of movement, the pull factor of citizenship would be diminished

So there you go. What he's confirmed there is that there's every chance freedom of movement would remain in the event of a vote to leave. For a campaign that's used immigration and control of borders as it's main argument for some time that's a problem. Unless of course you, like Daniel Hannan, believe that sticking around for 5 years in the hope of acquiring UK citizenship somewhere along the line is actually a driving force for most of those that come to the UK under freedom of movement. What he's confirmed there is that people concerned about immigration should risk the UK economy by voting to leave even though their main aim may not actually be achievable at the end of it all.

The whole case to leave is built on sand. Only the reckless and wholly irresponsible can fail to see it.
By:
brigust1
When: 28 May 16 13:19
The UK is £1.8 trillion in debt, France is worse, Germany is not much better, Italy is a disaster if the UK left the EU would collapse.

The NHS is massively is debt with hospitals owned by business and heading for privatisation to rescue the Treasury.

The Education service is in total crisis and heading for privatisation to rescue the Treasury.

The Housing in the UK is a human disaster.

The prisons are full to bursting and heading for privatisation to rescue the Treasury.

Anyone voting for more of the same of this rubbish is either rich or crazy.
By:
Oldgit1
When: 28 May 16 13:53
Marcce. You Kids will be one of the 90 million.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3613682/RIP-Britain-academic-objectivity-Oxford-Professor-DAVID-COLEMAN-one-country-s-population-experts-says-white-Britons-minority-late-2060s-sooner-current-immigration-trends-continue.html
By:
Marcce
When: 28 May 16 14:53
The UK is £1.8 trillion in debt, France is worse, Germany is not much better, Italy is a disaster if the UK left the EU would collapse.

The US is in huge debt, So too is China. Japan also. Guess what? So is Brazil. Is that due to the EU as well? That is part of a wider global problem which throughout history has only been resolved by wars. Let's hope it doesn't repeat itself this time.

Sorry oldgit I don't take any notice of Daily Mail hysteria. As I pointed out in the post above, Daniel Hannan cannot guarantee that leaving the EU would end free movement if that's your big concern. That's all you need to know right there.
By:
brigust1
When: 28 May 16 16:10
It wasn't a one liner Marcce it was a package. Where will we get the money to pay for the NHS, Education, Housing and the Prisons? The countries you listed can all trade themselves out of debt throughout the world. We cannot. We are 80% services and there is no way we can trade away the debt in the EU they have their own problems. The EU need the UK to sell to but UK sales to Europe are falling and have been falling for over a decade so to balance the books we need to sell to the new emerging markets to stop the trend.
By:
basilbrush
When: 28 May 16 16:44
The E.U. is completely and utterly collapsing right in front of our eyes both economically and socially.....it beggars belief that there are still people here in the UK who are trying to make a case for the REMAINERS when there is no case left to argue. The E.U. is finished with Greece, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal all on the verge of economic ruin, and the Eastern Europeans arent taking the immigrants, they are building defences. Many nation within the E.U. are already calling for their own Referendums to get out of the E.U. The whole of Europe has become a complete basket case, with thousands of immigrants still arriving in Italy almost everyday of the week. Rioting in France over workers rights, same in Brussels. Stabbings and violence, sexual assaults and rape all over Europe and the UK due to the huge influx of dangerous immigrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East......who on earth is voting to stay in that mess, you must be absolutely MAD.
By:
NOW WE KNOW
When: 28 May 16 16:53
All correct don't worry about the Economic arguments the UK will sort it out as our people are clever and resourceful. WTF are people thinking, this is a mess and we have the key to leave.
By:
Marcce
When: 28 May 16 16:53
The EU need the UK to sell to but UK sales to Europe are falling and have been falling for over a decade

Not actually true. UK exports to the EU have increased pretty much year on year this decade. What has changed is the proportion of sales overall as we've increased exports to other markets, mainly emerging economies, at the same time. Emerging economies and exports to them cannot continue to exponentially grow forever. At some point they hit a ceiling.

But the crux is that you talk as if leaving would automatically mean more money to be spent on education, health housing etc. There's no solid case as to why that will be the case. There is however a decent case to say things could be a lot worse.
By:
redal2
When: 28 May 16 17:07
The idea that it is Remain dominated by right wing multi nationals is a bit ironic given that Leave is led by Farage, Johnson, Duncan-Smith, Gove, supported by media barons Murdoch and Desmond. Financed by multi national owners such as Wheeler, many of whom live abroad! Oh and nutters such as Galloway.
If we do Leave the right control the country and Gove, Johnson, IDS are all pro privatisation of the NHS despite their recent mid-campaign conversion.
Hardly a workers paradise
By:
brigust1
When: 28 May 16 18:20
The importance of the European Union as the UK's main trading partner appears to be dwindling as the share of UK goods exported to the region fell to a record low in April.
Just 45.1pc of the goods that the UK exported that month went to the EU, down from 52pc in the previous year.
The data showed that Britain's overall trade deficit, including both goods and services, narrowed dramatically in April.
The proportion of the UK's goods that are exported to the European Union has been shrinking since the early 2000s, when it accounted for around two thirds of total UK goods exports.
Martin Beck, an economist at Oxford Economics, said: "The latest trade data showed a further decline in the EU's importance as a market for UK exports."
By:
NOW WE KNOW
When: 28 May 16 18:44
Such a shame that their is not a decent leader of the Leave campaign that could put the arguments across. Too many marmite characters are costing generations their future
By:
Rydal
When: 28 May 16 20:06
Brigust

Just 45.1pc? - i.e. nearly half. This is desperation stuff.

As for your 4 key issues - NHS, Education, Housing and the Prisons (and I do agree that they are all key issues) - the answers to these lie in our own hands, inside or outside the EU.

NHS - smarter spending; accelerating delegation; moving care home candidates out of hospitals; centralisation of core functions; financial contributions by users; more funding.

Education - addressing social issues which lead to lousy performance by poor white kids; increased focus on vocational training in useful trades;greater esteem for teachers.

Housing - relaxing planning constraints which cause an artificial restraint on availability of land suitable for development.

Prisons - decriminalisation of drug use; state control of supply of addictive drugs; reducing use of custodial sentences except in cases where society is at risk.

The problem is that programmes like this are political suicide, so we allow the situation to get worse.

It has been convenient for politicians and journalists in the UK to encourage the public into thinking that our issues stem from membership in the EU, when they follow from our own greed, lazyness, and reluctance to change. That won't change as a result of a No vote in 3 weeks.

The unrest in this country mirrors similar situations all over Europe and the rest of the world. It is manifested here by Brexit (or Corbyn); in the US by Trump (or Sanders); in Greece by Syriza (or New Dawn) and so on.
By:
roggrain
When: 28 May 16 20:24
The issue is much more straight forward than presented by many in terms of the long term implications.

Would you prefer to be governed from Westminster as the sovereign nation of Great Britain or from Brussels as

a small part of the nation of Europe?
By:
Oldgit1
When: 28 May 16 21:03
The NHS is slowly being privatised by the back door. One example is MSK partnerships that have been  set up around the country not the idea of the present government but by Labour although it took years after they left office to get it up and running. Each one is awarded over £200 million to run the service for a number of years. Private and NHS Trusts can bid for the contracts. They are said to be non profit making but companies like InHealth who own about 30 MRI scanners at NHS hospitals in the South East that the NHS cannot afford to buy benefit from the custom as do private clinics and mainly NHS consultants moonlighting at them that patients are mainly referred to rather than NHS hospitals.
The Guardian had a series of article about the hard nosed hedge fund managers bidding for them. Companies that were running care homes and other private health services sold up to get into this business. One company providing MSK services is Circle Health who got and lost the contract to run Hinchingbrooke Hospital for the NHS.

http://www.medicalimaging.org.uk/about-us/news/sussex-msk-contract-awarded

http://pshealth.co.uk/pshealth-insights/news/pshealth-client-bics-wins-large-210-million-contract-integrated-msk-services/
By:
Marcce
When: 28 May 16 22:52
The importance of the European Union as the UK's main trading partner appears to be dwindling as the share of UK goods exported to the region fell to a record low in April.
Just 45.1pc of the goods that the UK exported that month went to the EU, down from 52pc in the previous year.
The data showed that Britain's overall trade deficit, including both goods and services, narrowed dramatically in April.
The proportion of the UK's goods that are exported to the European Union has been shrinking since the early 2000s, when it accounted for around two thirds of total UK goods exports.
Martin Beck, an economist at Oxford Economics, said: "The latest trade data showed a further decline in the EU's importance as a market for UK exports."


And how is that any different to what I said? The proportion overall has fallen but the amount we export has increased. What you've actually done is to prove your original post was totally wrong because not only have we increased the amount we export to EU countries but the proportion has lessened because we have indeed exported more to those emerging markets we're unable to export to according to you.
By:
Marcce
When: 28 May 16 22:58
Would you prefer to be governed from Westminster as the sovereign nation of Great Britain or from Brussels as

a small part of the nation of Europe?


Well let me see now. If you're in work would you prefer the rules to be set by someone who has brought about greater protections for employees such as an entitlement to at least 4 weeks holiday a year, sick pay, maternity leave etc or by a government who have recently changed the rules on when some workers can go legally go on strike?

People get their knickers in a twist about being governed by Brussels (which is a myth anyway) but if laws that came from Bruseels were actually looked at I suspect most people would actually agree with most of them.
By:
brigust1
When: 29 May 16 00:01
As I said before anyone who wants more of the same must be either rich or crazy.

There is an old racing system saying 'system working great send more money' that sums up the EU in a nutshell.

And Marrce you seem to think we would have stood still without the EU. Well I don't. I think we would have improved in every area and those MP's who don't have that belief in this country know what they should do. I think the NHS, Education, housing and the prisons, to name but a few, would be better.

If you don't believe me look at the one area where we never went along with the EU, the Euro. Had we joined it would have been a financial disaster.
By:
Marcce
When: 29 May 16 00:53
Whilst "stood still" is a bit dramatic brigust there is clear evidence that EU membership has provided an undoubted boost to the UK economy over the past 40 odd years. This Financial Times article (a bit long) makes that point. And you know what it's quite remarkable how so many people supporting Brexit have become so concerned about the NHS and education. Pity they didn't seem to be as concerned last May.

A decade ago, Nifco UK was in deep trouble. It had lost control of costs in the highly competitive business to supply British-based car plants that sell across Europe.
Rivals in Germany and elsewhere threatened to devour the company’s market for handles, plastic pipes in car engines and seatbelt covers. Nifco UK badly needed a turnround plan.


The predicament was the same that thousands of British companies have confronted since the UK joined the European bloc in 1973, ending long years of preferential ties with the country’s former colonies.
Greater competition from the continent has proved difficult to adjust to, despite the rewards of access to the biggest market in the world. “We don’t have price increases,” Mr Matthews says, referring to the pressure to stay competitive even when the price of raw materials goes up. “Every year we have to give cost reductions.”
In response, Nifco UK modernised, at its base near Stockton-on-Tees, in one of Britain’s most deprived regions. The group’s Japanese parent invested in personnel, plant and research. Today even the reception desk is automated and gleaming machinery looms over workers on the factory floor. The company has moved ahead of its German competitors, acquiring plants in Germany, Spain and Poland, and supplying 286 car plants worldwide.
To Mr Matthews, access to the EU single market is vital. “If you’re an ambitious business, do you want a 1.6m [car] market or a 18m potential market?” he says. But many other executives complain that EU red tape has stifled entrepreneurialism and held them back.
-------------------------

-------------------------
For decades, British companies have struggled to respond to competition elsewhere in the EU, with some household names disappearing. British Leyland, the once mighty car manufacturer, and ICI, the industrial conglomerate, are just two of the titans that have collapsed. But those that have survived have often emerged stronger — and with unimpeded access to a vast market of more than 500m people, the most valuable in the world.
Perhaps the biggest issue in the June 23 referendum is the question of whether 43 years in the EU have helped or hurt the British economy.
Many economists contend what matters most is not funds transferred between Brussels and London, or even claims of jobs created or destroyed. Instead, the central issue is how EU membership has changed the shape of the British economy — its competitiveness and openness to other markets — through the impact on thousands of companies such as Nifco.

“Competition forces these guys to improve or exit,” says Professor Nick Bloom of Stanford University, in words that echo Mr Matthews’ experiences. “The single European market increased competition and forced British firms to increase the level of innovation.”

Britain joined what was then the European Economic Community in 1973 as the sick man of Europe. By the late 1960s, France, West Germany and Italy — the three founder members closest in size to the UK — produced more per person than it did and the gap grew larger every year. Between 1958, when the EEC was set up, and Britain’s entry in 1973, gross domestic product per head rose 95 per cent in these three countries compared with only 50 per cent in Britain.

After becoming an EEC member, Britain slowly began to catch up. Gross domestic product per person has grown faster than Italy, Germany and France in the 42 years since. By 2013, Britain became more prosperous than the average of the three other large European economies for the first time since 1965.

Professor Nauro Campos of Brunel University has estimated how Britain would have fared if it had not joined the common market. He and his colleagues found the best approximation to Britain’s pre-1973 economic performance to be a combination of New Zealand and Argentina, which like the UK fell behind the US and continental Europe.

During the next 40 years the UK economy outperformed those two countries by 23 per cent. According to the findings, Britain’s performance also surpassed the vast majority of 1,000 other combinations of countries whose record had previously resembled its own.
Such studies highlight two main periods when prosperity increased: in the 1970s, soon after the UK joined, and after the EU opened its single market in goods in 1992, a sea change in integration. But, because it is so difficult to distinguish a causal link from a mere correlation, the UK’s post-1973 rebound does not itself definitively establish that EU membership has made the country more productive — the fundamental issue at stake. Ruth Lea, economic adviser to Arbuthnot Securities, a private bank, says the leading cause of its reversal in fortunes was in fact “a certain lady from Finchley” — the late Margaret Thatcher, who privatised state-owned companies, took on the unions and deregulated the City of London.

Boosted trade
Most economists have little doubt that Britain’s membership of the EU has translated into more trade than would otherwise have been the case.
Daniel Vernazza of UniCredit has shown that UK trade with EU partners grew faster after 1973 than it did with the remaining countries in the European Free Trade Association, the grouping to which Britain previously belonged. His work underlines that harmonising regulations — an effort at the heart of the EU endeavour — is often much more effective in boosting trade than is lowering tariffs.


Professor Nick Crafts of Warwick University, Britain’s pre-eminent economic historian, adds that opening to trade allowed the UK to bounce back after falling behind its neighbours. “Britain’s really, really big problem in the 1960s was very weak competition,” he says. “Trade liberalisation was a major factor in improving competition . . . It removed weak firms, made management better and improved industrial relations — more than Thatcher.”

Data compiled by Rebecca Driver of the consultancy Analytically Driven highlight a causal link between Britain’s greater openness to trade since 1973 and its subsequent specialisation in high productivity sectors, including finance, high-tech manufacturing and business services. Ms Driver says the 11 per cent of British companies that trade internationally are responsible for some 60 per cent of the UKs productivity gains.
“These companies prefer large geographically concentrated markets with strong unified regulations,” she adds. “For the UK, that is the EU”. In other words, trade drives competition and growth. Since 1993, the UK has been the bloc’s top recipient of inward foreign direct investment, according to the UN.

The fallout
Some aspects of EU membership have not been so good for the British economy. Today one in 20 UK residents was born in another EU country. But numerous studies have shown that most gains from immigration have fallen to the immigrants themselves. Apart from a net benefit to public finances of importing workers, free movement has not itself obviously increased British people’s prosperity.
If the EU has helped Britain open to the world, that openness has not always been an unalloyed advantage. When the global financial crisis hit, the nation found itself exposed to bad foreign assets held by UK banks.

Some Eurosceptics say Britain stands a better chance of growth in future years if it looks beyond the sluggish economies of the EU to more dynamic parts of the world. But such an argument is a claim about the future, predicated on trading relationships that do not yet exist, rather than an analysis of the past.
For almost half a century Britain has benefited from a greater openness to world markets, which has fostered greater economic dynamism. Economists have demonstrated that the main cause of that change was membership of the EU, which brought with it gains from trade, foreign direct investment, competition and innovation.


Warwick University’s Prof Crafts says no one can know exactly how much the EU directly benefited Britain, but a 10 per cent rise in prosperity is a reasonable estimate. “That dominates any reasonable idea of what the membership fee is,” he concludes. He cautions there is little evidence that joining the bloc permanently increased Britain’s growth rate, since the EU primarily boosted the economy in the 1970s and 1990s. But leaving the union could jeopardise the UK’s gains from increased openness and competition — the contributions economists overwhelmingly say the EU has made to British prosperity.
Even economists backing Brexit rarely argue that the EU has had an overall negative effect. Arbuthnot Securities’ Ms Lea describes the bloc’s economic impact as “fairly negligible”. Patrick Minford, long one of the most outspoken economists backing Brexit, said in late February that EU membership had benefited the British economy by initially freeing trade.

Speaking in his factory, Nifco UK’s Mr Matthews says that during his 28 years in the car parts business, Britain’s membership has made it dramatically easier to sell products across borders while pushing companies to become more productive. That is the EU effect that has transformed not just one car-parts manufacturer in Teesside but the UK economy as a whole.

It is a modern-day fact of economic life that Mr Matthews thinks the country should not turn its back on. He wonders why Britain would even contemplate leaving the EU. “You have enough challenges in business,” he says. “Why would you put yourself in a more difficult position?” One of the intriguing questions that will be answered on June 23 is whether such arguments — overwhelmingly backed by economists — will win the day.
By:
Tallywagger.
When: 29 May 16 08:08
This referendum will be the first and last time I will ever vote. I think remain will win with around 55% of the vote even though I will be voting to leave.

My only other prediction is, those who vote remain are far more likely to end up regretting it than the leave lot were they to win. Better to be out now on our own terms than when the inevitable collapse comes soon.

I never thought I would see the day a PM would sicken me more than Blair, but Cameron is running him close. Imagine having a campaign message that is basically saying "I'm completely useless, please stay in the EU" How humiliating.

Out without a doubt.
By:
brigust1
When: 29 May 16 09:40
Oh dear, black writing.

Marcce all you are doing is confirming my point. 'System working great send more money!'

The health service is massively in debt and the hospitals are privately owned, the education service is overwhelmed and heading for privatisation through academies, the housing situation is a human disaster and the prisons are full to bursting. What is happening is not working so something must change. We must take back charge of the money we create, we must control our borders and we must broaden our trade relations. The EU is not working and our presence is only keeping the 'system' going when it should be ended. Just like a horse racing system.

Anyone who votes for more of the same is either rich (The wealthy leaders of Remain will never know the devastating effect EU immigration has on ordinary people) or crazy.
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