If we leave and it doesn't work out could we re-join? That's an interesting question. Do they want us in the EU or not? If so why block us re-joining in future? To punish previous mistakes? Would they offer us a worse deal? IMO Its always just a negotiation at the time depending on the economics of each party. If the EU is so great why not let people try to go it alone, and come back in future (as the door is always open). Surely we can be left to try something different. If the EU is worth the cost we will want to come back. Surely choice is fair and good for all.
Its all unknown. Who can possibly predict how we could benefit / suffer from leaving.
All I keep coming back to is how much it costs us each year, and how little we receive. That's the only thing we know for sure. Leaving will save us a LOT or money directly. I could costs us some money too, but no one knows how much. BUT that's NOT a reason to not change. Fear of the unknown is a classic issue that stifles change in so many environments.
Another way to look at it is we pay a LOT to be a member of the club, but we cannot even remember what it was like to be a non-member (let alone quantify cost against the benefit).
I vote to go. Spend the cash we save on the NHS, and better border controls.
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Peter, see above. We get more financially than we put in. Otherwise why would anyone support us being in the EU. You have to also count the value of the business that UK companies get from free unfettered access to the EU. The question is, is this worth it for the negatives?
I was living and working in Portugal when they joined the EU in the 80s. The transformation was amazing in terms of the number of Uk companies that turned up there, expanding their businesses, and therefore increased corporation tax paid to the UK govenrnment.
