the 23rd of June in the uk

[Catweazle]

I fear that by calling for a vote we have screwed ourselves. If we vote to leave our economy will suffer, if we vote to stay we'll have lost bargaining power with the rest of the EU.

Al the time we were threatening to have a vote we had some leverage and the EU had to give us some concessions, but actually having the vote will end that.

[Jamesey1981]

There would be upheaval whether we vote on the issue or not, and whatever the result.
Some recent polls have 48% of Italians wanting to leave the EU, 51% in France want an in/out referendum, and Marine LePen has said there will be one if she is elected in next year's presidential election, the Front National got their largest ever share of the vote in the last regional elections in France and many polls there are predicting that she will do very well.
Not saying this to influence the way anyone plans to vote, but whichever way the referendum goes I think we have interesting times ahead.

[grenfell]

I fear that by calling for a vote we have screwed ourselves. If we vote to leave our economy will suffer, if we vote to stay we'll have lost bargaining power with the rest of the EU.

Al the time we were threatening to have a vote we had some leverage and the EU had to give us some concessions, but actually having the vote will end that.

There is or was the argument that a large section of the population publicly voicing their dissent with the EU could have given our politicians a bargaining chip to promote change within but Junkers seems to have squashed that by saying that there's nothing else to be negotiated and no further concessions could be expected. That's probably given the leave campaign a bigger boost than all of Boris's speeches.

Either way the vote goes I'll live with it ,I'm pretty much 50/50 on it anyway pros and cons to both sides.

[Deeps]

I fear that by calling for a vote we have screwed ourselves. If we vote to leave our economy will suffer, if we vote to stay we'll have lost bargaining power with the rest of the EU.

Al the time we were threatening to have a vote we had some leverage and the EU had to give us some concessions, but actually having the vote will end that.

There is or was the argument that a large section of the population publicly voicing their dissent with the EU could have given our politicians a bargaining chip to promote change within but Junkers seems to have squashed that by saying that there's nothing else to be negotiated and no further concessions could be expected. That's probably given the leave campaign a bigger boost than all of Boris's speeches.

Either way the vote goes I'll live with it ,I'm pretty much 50/50 on it anyway pros and cons to both sides.

You maybe hang around with a classier set than me Grenfell but I've only heard one argument to leave based on a sound financial and rational basis (I didn't entirely agree with it but it was a forensic accountant so I was hardly in a position to call bullshit on the financials and he's an open minded guy), the rest of the arguments I found, shall we say, less 'scientific' and more emotional. Each to their own and that though. Nearly time for the countdown music.

[pseudonym]

Well that's that, the people have spoken.

[Deeps]

I guessed it would go this way but I'm a bit deflated this morning.

[womble]

Lieutenant Gorman: Any questions?
[womble raises his hand]
Lieutenant Gorman: What is it, Private?
Private womble: How do I get out of this chickenshit outfit?

So. Scotland then, and help them with getting independent in time to have not left Europe...

[pseudonym]

Cameron standing down as PM by Oct.

[katilea]

Well Britain voted out.. personally as a disabled person I feel doomed. This Govt can now do what the hell they want as far as disability benefit reforms go. I've still to go through the DLA to PIP changeover and if I don't get it I won't be able to pay my bills as I'm also having to pay bedroom tax cos I have an extra room (for storage of medical equipment that I was assessed as needing back in 2004). Could well end up having to downsize if they decide I'm worth giving any money to all to survive on! ..otherwise me and doggy are on the streets.

In the meantime I'll keep entering the lottery on the off chance I might win enough to pay for my house before this happens! ..seriously though I don't see much of a future for the disabled now if this govt no longer has to follow DDA and we can't take cases over their heads to EU of Human Rights.

[Brambles]

@Katilea:
Quite right too. Everyone has to follow the law of the land, reforms and all.
I have recently been deemed not eligible for PIP however, I'm not sitting on my ar$e moaning about how the country owes me a living. I have already made plans and have been pro-active in setting my finances straight. I suggest it's in your interests to do the same instead of waiting for other folk to do it for you. Only by doing it yourself will you be able to understand how the system works and what you can claim.