[Politics] Brexit

[Bwian]

To be fair a free press is an intrinsic part of a democracy. We often measure freedom partly by how free a press a country has. Look at China and also the concerns being raised by journalists in Turkey. There is no real measure of this supposed influence that the press have over voting intentions, indeed it may be the reverse ie newspapers follow the views of their readership for commercial reasons. There does seem to be a bit of a pattern though of those that lose elections claiming it wasn't a fair election because of the press. The Right makes these accusations against the BBC and the Left against the Murdoch press. Its probably better to not engage in this type of thing and instead go out and win the debate.

My comment wasn't a left/right, stay/leave issue because years ago The Sun backed Blair and that influenced millions. There should be a free press but not Murdoch's interpretation of it-again, only my opinion.

 

[KZNSeagull]

What is the Swiss model please?

Not sure how accurate this is, but I am sure it gives a rough idea: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland–European_Union_relations

It looks a bit of a mess and involves having referendums every time something major happens with relations with the EU. I am sure a better solution could be found.

 

[Postman Pat]

They just need to get on with it and sort it. The British people have made their choice.

'They' are quite keen for that to happen. Boris and Cameron have said that we need to take it slowly.

 

[pb21]

The Conservative MP said there had been some “misunderstanding” over the Leave campaign’s position on reducing immigration.

Speaking to 5 live’s Stephen Nolan, he said the Leave campaign’s plan was to “control” immigration and not necessarily reduce it.

More backtracking by the Brexit clowns.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03zfw9m

:fffsparr:

 

[Colossal Squid]

Which is more-or-less what France's economy minister said last week - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36567469

Thanks, I genuinely hadn't seen that. Nice to know I share a view with my fellow European, France's economy minister

 

[Seasider78]

Actually, for all of my disgust at the lies of the leave campaign, the racist nature of many leave voters, of the ignorance of the majority to most of the issues (despite having so much time to go and do just a little research on the internet into the actual issues being discussed), as well as my annoyance that the older generations have voted for a future that their children and grandchildren simply don't want, the one thing most people can agree on is that this is the first time we've had a truly democratic decision in this country in a very long time. I want more of that. I want a change to our political system so that everyone's vote counts. There may be more immediate turmoil as a result of that, with fascism winning in the short term, but long term the benefits are likely to be more transparency, a harder working MP force and less apathy from voters. That can only be a good thing for this country.

Perhaps more of their 'children and grandchildren' should have got up off their arses and voted then instead simply sitting back and bitching about the result. From the indications of those that did it might have resulted in a different outcome

 

[ManOfSussex]

It is their performance in the euros that did it - over inflated belief in their own ability.

and that singing in the streets to the Russians of 'We're England and Wales! We're England and Wales! **** off Russia! We're England and Wales!' It went to their heads.

 

[Bwian]

I either missed the humour or you really have no clue. Oil is priced in dollars the pound falls against the dollar and you think the price will come down.

The reduced VAT on fuel that was part of the campaigning. Apologies for the poor attempt. Yes you missed but in fairness it was a very small target.

 

[studio150]

Yugoslavia had a civil war and ended up splitting into several countries, despite the existence of the EU, pretty sure they are located in Europe. - why wasn't that prevented?

Yugoslavia were not part of the EU at the time of the conflict but why let facts get in the way

 

[Triggaaar]

The Times interviewed four people in Margate two weeks ago. All wanted to leave. Their reasons were:

1. "I went to Calais the other day. There were 50 fishing boats in the harbour. Margate has got one." (This suggests that the number of fishing boats in your harbour has nothing to do with the EU.)

2. "There are too many muslims in England."

3. (Didn't say anything. Just started singing Land of Hope & Glory).

4. "I don't like Cameron. He's a politician. I want Boris. He's an entertainer-politician."

A High Street shopkeeper in Sussex was telling customers earlier this week that he was voting out because when his dad was in hospital there were too many blacks in the waiting rooms.

As the polls closed on Thursday, the BBC reporter Nick Robinson was standing outside a polling station - the last person went in just before it closed, and when he came out Nick asked what his vote was. He said 'remain'. Nick asked why and he said 'er, erm' then he shrugged his shoulders and walked off.

Not everyone can give a good reason when asked.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

It's a drop in the ocean compared with the waste and corruption that's endemic throughout Britain life and to fail to recognise that it has always been so reflects the way that you and countless others of the leave camp will continue to be duped into believing that "we" now have the opportunity to regain control of our destiny.

I think that the point is that we, the people of the UK can vote in a Government to tackle this wastage in this country should that be the wish of the people (as political party policies are influenced by public opinion like fox hunting being banned)

There is no mechanism for the people in the UK to vote and change how money is spent in the EU and therefore where is the motivation for the EU to be prudent with its spending?

The moving of the EU parliament occurs due to a treaty signed by all members, it would take another treaty to change this process and there isn't the will to do this so it will continue and continue to be a waste of public money, the UK couldn't force a cut this waste of money even if it's population wanted it

 

[whitelion]

So when we voted in 1975 about joining the common market was within a few years of the war ending,

We were already in the Common Market having joined in 1973. The referendum in 1975 was about whether we should remain so.

1975 Referendum on the United Kingdom's continued membership of the Common MarketIt is nearly 25 years since the U.K. electorate was last consulted on the U.K.'s relationship with the European Union (as it is now). At last we now stand to be consulted again: on membership of the EU's Economic and Monetary Union, if and when the Government recommends joining.

In 1975 a referendum was held in the United Kingdom, asking whether the electorate wished to remain part of what was then the Common Market. It is a common misconception that this referendum was on whether Britain should join - this is not the case, as Britain was already a member.

The referendum was a manifesto commitment of the Labour party under the leadership of Harold Wilson. The Labour party was elected to form Her Majesty's Government and duly held the referendum.

The main purpose of this site is to host an online version of the pamphlet distributed to every household by the Government in support of the Government's recommendation that people should vote in favour of staying in. The aim is to provide proof of what the British people were told about membership of the Common Market on the occasion they were last consulted. It demonstrates just how far the European Union has 'progressed' as a political project since then.

Please use this link to see the*pamphlet text. Scans of the original document should be available soon.

The question that was actually asked was:

DO YOU THINK THE UNITED KINGDOM SHOULD STAY IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (THE COMMON MARKET)?

 

[Binney on acid]

Will The Beatles reform?

Now we're stumbling blindfolded towards the 1960's, will The Beatles reform?

 

[Colossal Squid]

Greenland left the EEC 30 years ago because their fishing industry was being destroyed. SInce then, they have done very well, their industry has thrived and they export huge quantities to the EU.

That was the EEC and comparing Greenland (with a population roughly equivalent to Horsham) and the UK is ludicrous. They didn't contribute or take much from the European project so taking them out of the equation was no real issue

 

[ManOfSussex]

We've got to bring back national service first, rescind the smoking ban and allow the banks, assuming any are left, to require all women to have their Father's or Husband's permission to open an account.

That'll really show Johnny Foreigner we're not taken anymore of this bureaucratic political correctness gone mad.

 

[brightn'ove]

Maddest reasons to leave

As the polls closed on Thursday, the BBC reporter Nick Robinson was standing outside a polling station - the last person went in just before it closed, and when he came out Nick asked what his vote was. He said 'remain'. Nick asked why and he said 'er, erm' then he shrugged his shoulders and walked off.

Not everyone can give a good reason when asked.

Slight difference between not giving an answer and being an overt bigot.

 

[Beach Hut]

I am looking forward to seeing white dog poo again.

 

[dingodan]

Nobody in 'leave' would have asked for a second referendum if they lost would they - http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nigel-farage-previously-said-would-8273721

So what you are saying is that you wish to emulate Nigal Farage?

If you are saying that Nigel Farage would have asked for something, so it's Ok for you to ask for it too, well that is a little lacking in integrity, isn't it?

Farage may have called for a second referendum if Remain had won. & consider what YOU would have said about that? I wanted us to leave, and I would have accepted a Remain vote, because I took part in the process on the basis that I would respect the result. If I thought the rules were unfair, or if I thought the outcome may have been unsafe in it's validity, I would not have taken part. The one thing I would never do, because it would be frankly a little outrageous, would be to take part in the process, then seek to change the rules of the process retrospectively because I didn't like the outcome.

 

[lawros left foot]

Oh come now, 2 days ago you leavers were telling us we were headed for a land of milk and honey, where we would trade with the whole world, and Europe especially, would be begging us to shower them with our largesse.
What could possibly go wrong , you said, well, reality is beginning to bite, you wanted it, you sort it out

 

[Don Quixote]

Another referendum would only mean leave would win by an even larger share of the vote. The people have decided and that is the end of it. Some people didn't get their way, and they are angry. They will be angry for some time, but there is nothing they can do about it.