Should The UK Now Convert To The Euro ?

[pasty]

I'm not sure a referendum would work to be honest. I think there are so many people with the attitude of f*** meddlesome Europe, I'm English, I like pounds and pence, pounds and ounces, feet and inches, miles etc that a no vote would almost inevitable.

 

[coventrygull]

I'm not sure a referendum would work to be honest. I think there are so many people with the attitude of f*** meddlesome Europe, I'm English, I like pounds and pence, pounds and ounces, feet and inches, miles etc that a no vote would almost inevitable.

Whats wrong with that. f*** the European super state.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

and some decisions are too important and specific to leave to politicans to decide upon when the electorate voted them in on a wider manifesto, which included a commitment to a referedum on the subject.

A manifesto is an outline of key intentions though. I would expect a government to cover most of what it contains, but by no way is it exhaustive.

In some respects it cant be, as things change during the course of a government.

 

[Man of Harveys]

Yes a lot of important decisions have been made without referendums and thats the reason why people are pissed of now.

Are they? Or is it *sigh* just the *yawn* far right getting all hissy-fit-angry...again...zzzzzz?

Out of interest, would you have called for a referendum for the decisions for this country to go into World War 2? And on decisions taken during its conduct? Governments don't get many decisions more important or difficult than that to take, after all. But the representative system of government seemed to work fairly ok back then.

 

[The Large One]

Are they? Or is it *sigh* just the *yawn* far right getting all hissy-fit-angry...again...zzzzzz?

Out of interest, would you have called for a referendum for the decisions for this country to go into World War 2? And on decisions taken during its conduct? Governments don't get many decisions more important or difficult than that to take, after all. But the representative system of government seemed to work fairly ok back then.

The bombing of Coventry, for one...

 

[Pavilionaire]

The issue is really about how much "British" are we prepared to sacrifice for the economic benefit we'll get.

I believe the "British" traditionalist 'anti'-feelings are weakening year on year, but I don't believe the economic arguments to support the switch have been made clearly enough. Therefore, it's hard to see the pro-Euro lobby winning the day.

 

[beorhthelm]

But if this went to a referendum, there would be some incredibly thick and insular people voting NO simply because someone in the pub told them that the queen's head would be replaced by a picture of an EC building in Brussels.

and just as many voting YES because they wont have to change money for their annual sun pilgrimage.

A manifesto is an outline of key intentions though. I would expect a government to cover most of what it contains, but by no way is it exhaustive.

its fair enough if they dont get to do everything, but its somthing else to make a pledge to not do something then do it anyway.

 

[coventrygull]

Are they? Or is it *sigh* just the *yawn* far right getting all hissy-fit-angry...again...zzzzzz?

Out of interest, would you have called for a referendum for the decisions for this country to go into World War 2? And on decisions taken during its conduct? Governments don't get many decisions more important or difficult than that to take, after all. But the representative system of government seemed to work fairly ok back then.

Yawn. Why did we fight world war 2? To maintain our national freedom. We didn't want to become part of a European Super State.

 

[London Calling]

Yawn. Why did we fight world war 2? To maintain our national freedom. We didn't want to become part of a European Super State.

Differnce then was, we had to fight to maintain our idependence, to join the Euro would be a political and socia choice.

 

[coventrygull]

Differnce then was, we had to fight to maintain our idependence, to join the Euro would be a political and socia choice.

So we should have a referendum then as our independence would disappear. Also it is not just the so called right that are against the Euro. The Greens and the left are as well. It is also not about xenophobia but our nations right to economic and political independence

 

[The Large One]

OK, at the risk of asking an even dumber question, what is wrong with the UK (or any European state) losing its economic independence?

 

[Man of Harveys]

So we should have a referendum then as our independence would disappear. Also it is not just the so called right that are against the Euro. The Greens and the left are as well. It is also not about xenophobia but our nations right to economic and political independence

If independence is all that matters over anything else, should British companies even be trading with those horrible people over there somewhere? Because that's something that the Euro would facilitate.

And yes, no party has a monopoly on stupidity on this subject, sadly.

 

[coventrygull]

OK, at the risk of asking an even dumber question, what is wrong with the UK (or any European state) losing its economic independence?

Well to put it this way. Its like your neighbours coming around and telling you what you can and cannot do with your money. I am sure most of us on here would not find this acceptable.

 

[coventrygull]

If independence is all that matters over anything else, should British companies even be trading with those horrible people over there somewhere? Because that's something that the Euro would facilitate.

And yes, no party has a monopoly on stupidity on this subject, sadly.

Look British companies were trading with other countries before the EU. I do not find the people of europe horrible either. I am against a super state . Oh and I am looking out of my window at the Peugeot plant being demolished. The EU is great isn't it?

Ironic but one of my old political pals is a MEP

 

[Simster]

and just as many voting YES because they wont have to change money for their annual sun pilgrimage.

"just as many"? Erm, I think not.

And in any case, the decision you illustrate is at least an economic one, rather than a misinformed and untrue xenophobic one.

As MoH mentioned, the red tops have drip fed xenophobic anti EU bollocks for decades. For example, red tops have been overly concerned with the enforcement of selling standard sized bananas (who really should give a shit about this?) or the compulsory use of metric weights over imperial (we were actually given 25 years notice over this, because imperial is complete wank).

The pro-Euro lobby has never had the opportunity to brain wash in this manner.

 

[Simster]

Well to put it this way. Its like your neighbours coming around and telling you what you can and cannot do with your money. I am sure most of us on here would not find this acceptable.

It really is nothing of the sort.

 

[coventrygull]

It really is nothing of the sort.

So you explain it then. Nice and simple like

 

[Simster]

So you explain it then. Nice and simple like

OK I'll give it a try.

As things stand, the BoE central bank can change interest rates as it sees fit for the benefit of the economy. However, the rate it sets is heavily dependent on the Euro and the dollar in order to remain competitive so actually the BoE might *want* to lower rates by 2% but can only do so by 1% because of external economic pressures and competition from the Euro.

So currently we have a certain amount of economic freedom, but in the real world, not really all that much.

If we enter the Euro, the central bank's job will be to do what's best for the WHOLE Eurozone, and incidentally, that would include us. Obviously we'd consequently have less control than now, but not really all that much less. And in addition, we'd have the added benefit of finding stability in our prinicipal export market.

What has to be decided is whether giving up this limited amount of control is a price worth paying for a stable export market. Personally I'm not sure that it is, given our housing crisis and debt laden economy which is in stark contrast to great swathes of the Eurozone, but to suggest we'd suddenly lose all this economic freedom is complete bollocks because we've never actually had it!

 

[coventrygull]

OK I'll give it a try.

As things stand, the BoE central bank can change interest rates as it sees fit for the benefit of the economy. However, the rate it sets is heavily dependent on the Euro and the dollar in order to remain competitive so actually the BoE might *want* to lower rates by 2% but can only do so by 1% because of external economic pressures and competition from the Euro.

So currently we have a certain amount of economic freedom, but in the real world, not really all that much.

If we enter the Euro, the central bank's job will be to do what's best for the WHOLE Eurozone, and incidentally, that would include us. Obviously we'd consequently have less control than now, but not really all that much less. And in addition, we'd have the added benefit of finding stability in our prinicipal export market.

What has to be decided is whether giving up this limited amount of control is a price worth paying for a stable export market. Personally I'm not sure that it is, given our housing crisis and debt laden economy which is in stark contrast to great swathes of the Eurozone, but to suggest we'd suddenly lose all this economic freedom is complete bollocks because we've never actually had it!

I think we had already agreed that the British economy is subject to the world economy. Thus limiting our economic freedom. i am not a fan of globalisation and all its horrors either. I don't think we would have less control. We would have no control. You appear to believe that the Eurozone will be benevolent in dishing out its cash. I don't

What is wrong with a Europe of nations. Each one keeping its political and economic independence but having a trade agreement?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Well to put it this way. Its like your neighbours coming around and telling you what you can and cannot do with your money. I am sure most of us on here would not find this acceptable.

Given the UK is up to it's neck in debt a wise neighbour would have been most welcome dont you think?