http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/...on-quitting-EU

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14967368

If it goes through ( somehow ), looks like it will mean work permits for a lot of you in CH.

According to at least one person I know, Britain never actually joined the EU.

I wouldn't worry. Cameron couldn't care less about a backlash from his back benchers or the public, as he has shown MANY times before.

"There was once a dream that was a Great Britain free of the EU. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish... it was so fragile. And I fear that it will not survive the winter"


Apologies to the Gladiator script writers...

Do I look in the slightest bit bovvered?

Extricating a country from the EU, even though Sterling isn't as tied in as other countries' previous currencies, would be an interesting exercise in bureaucracy and excuses. Imagine the availability of apartments in Brussels as the MEPs pack their backs and exit west.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datab...xports-imports

The UK isn't as dependent upon trade with EU nations as one might imagine. Previous Commonwealth countries and the US are key to the supporting the UK's industrial ties.

Difficult to predict how things would change if this did actually take place.

All the kids would be shocked to see a curved cucumber

I is bovered innit.

The UK's major trade is with the EU (in combination) not the US, although some sceptics would like you to believe that. We export more to Germany than the US by some margin. (2011 Figures)

https://www.uktradeinfo.com/pagecont...es/t50Q211.xls

Norway seems to have survived ok. In any case with the uk/ eire in a sterling currency which would throw them a lifeline, we would be able to trade with a new eu.

leaving the EU would be the best thing that could happen to the UK. sadly, the eurocrats would never allow it.

Never understood this argument, who cares if you pay with pounds, dollars, euros or groats? Doesn't matter. I don't care what my bananas look like, I care that the EU takes the lead in social welfare policy as my old government wants the days of workhouses back.

There's a huge amount of good in the EU, but also a load of crap.

The only difference is that you can tinker with interest rates and hide the bankers F ups if you keep Sterling. Lets face it some republicans would like to see the removal of her in Buckingham palace off the currency asap.

pretty irrelevant. EU trade is always brought up, yet some how the EFTA countries manage to have more EU trade than the UK. leaving the EU doesn't mean ceasing to trade with the EU.

switzerland has shown that you can have many of the benefits of being in the EU without signing onto all the dis-advantages. the UK should follow suit.

An end to retirement in Southern France / Spain as well I suppose.

EU =/= Eurozone. The UK isn't part of the Eurozone and doesn't use the Euro.

I agree. It wouldn't be in the interests of the EU countries to cease trading with the UK. They could do it out of spite, I suppose, but I think the PIGS nations might have something to say about that.

Question is, would the UK be prepared to accept Euros for the trade in a post Eurozone EU?

The figures below seem to say something else though?
Of the top 10 biggest trade partners, 8 are E.U. countries:

Top 25 Trading Partners - Monthly - Imports and Exports:

https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cf...ashPlayer=true

EDIT: Sorry Cata1st you were quicker

1973 was when the Euro joined the EEC.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/d...00/2459167.stm

Euro joining EEC? What?

Did you mean the UK?

If so, then yes we did. We didn't, however, vote to join the EU. That has been hoisted upon us over the ensuing 30-odd years.

Edit: interesting little fact in the accompanying graphic "26th April, 1976. Labour votes to leave the EEC"

True was getting a bit excited there, just waiting for the "never ever to the Euro" argument.

I can't see why the UK isn't dual currency

Not sure what can be so good about being forced to do something most citizens didnt get a choice about. Sounds more like communism with another name IMO.