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Post by suzika on May 12, 2016 0:16:59 GMT 1
If you aren’t already registered to vote, you must register by 7 June if you want to vote in the EU referendum on 23 June. Any British expat who left the UK less than 15 years ago has the right to vote.
Expats can register to vote here: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Vote REMAIN
Britain Stronger In: www.strongerin.co.uk/#yKT3M6YfLH8hfJWw.97
The European Movement: euromove.org.uk
British Influence. A business group which publishes a wide range of briefing papers: www.britishinfluence.org
Infacts. Helpful articles by a group of pro-EU journalists, shorter and less technical than the British Influence stuff: www.infacts.org. This site includes links to all the key EU and Government texts.
There are 2 paras about expat interests in the recent Cabinet paper on the withdrawal process (paras 4.2 and 5.9). The gist as far as expat are concerned is that:
“They all currently enjoy a range of specific rights to live, to work and access to pensions, health care and public services that are only guaranteed because of EU law. There would be no requirement under EU law for these rights to be maintained if the UK left the EU. Should an agreement be reached to maintain these rights, the expectation must be that this would have to be reciprocated for EU citizens living in the UK. (para 4.2)."
There is a good article on the Infacts site about the risks for expats infacts.org/brexit-uk-expats-rights-in-jeopardy/
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Post by crojoe on May 13, 2016 12:46:33 GMT 1
If you aren’t already registered to vote, you must register by 7 June if you want to vote in the EU referendum on 23 June. Any British expat who left the UK less than 15 years ago has the right to vote.
Expats can register to vote here: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Vote REMAIN
Britain Stronger In: www.strongerin.co.uk/#yKT3M6YfLH8hfJWw.97
The European Movement: euromove.org.uk
British Influence. A business group which publishes a wide range of briefing papers: www.britishinfluence.org
Infacts. Helpful articles by a group of pro-EU journalists, shorter and less technical than the British Influence stuff: www.infacts.org. This site includes links to all the key EU and Government texts.
There are 2 paras about expat interests in the recent Cabinet paper on the withdrawal process (paras 4.2 and 5.9). The gist as far as expat are concerned is that:
“They all currently enjoy a range of specific rights to live, to work and access to pensions, health care and public services that are only guaranteed because of EU law. There would be no requirement under EU law for these rights to be maintained if the UK left the EU. Should an agreement be reached to maintain these rights, the expectation must be that this would have to be reciprocated for EU citizens living in the UK. (para 4.2)."
There is a good article on the Infacts site about the risks for expats infacts.org/brexit-uk-expats-rights-in-jeopardy/
And where do you got o vote OUT? Ha! As a person who was in Croatia prior to it joining the EU (and many other countries worldwide) and as a British citizen I see no problem being out of the EU. We will still be able to travel (takes under 5 minutes to show my passport at any border). I already have got to show it when I hit the end of France and then enter the UK (if driving) or at passport controls (seeing the UK does not have an official ID card). I have also got to show it when going to Serbia, Bosnia or worldwide. My personal thoughts (and they are just mine) is that the UK will be better out in the long run. I do think there will be short term inconveniences, but then that can happen at any time due to world market manipulation (the world is on the brink of financial collapse already... and the UK's problems are not just due to the BREXIT question... although that does play a part). The UK and Europe will still be able to trade if and how it is negotiated. From all accounts the EU exports more to the UK then the UK does to the EU, so if the EU wanted to create a trade war then they would be the end loosers. Would Germany like to see less BMW, AUDI, Beer and many other of their products stop being exported to Britain... NO!I'm sure the same could be said of Italy, France, Poland and others. For the 2 million Brits in Spain a BREXIT may be an issue, but seeing most are retires then if they own their own property (which many do) or can show they have finances to stay (which many do) then they should be OK (just like it was prior to HR joining the EU). Those retires are net contributors, not Spanish benefit recipients. It will be the younger British folks staying there or working, those in say the "service industry" that may suffer. Sure, for UK citizen expats it will make life a bit more exciting and challenging, although if one is a "real" expat then they will have made arrangements for them to be able to stay in any EU country... such as getting married to a local, buying property, get a residency permit, citizenship or maybe own a business (business ownership would be the tougher option). If not, then any such person who has not prepared will have a two year period in which to get their house in order (so says the law on EU divorce). What is pretty plan to me is that the EU government has an agenda, and that agenda is to create a "united state of Europe". They want to do away with a countries cultural being, overrule public opinion and create a multi-cultural one state fits all system (similar in many ways to the ideology of communism... whats yours is mine and I'm going to take it away from you). Free trade was around prior to the EU government deciding to expand their political powers to ruling all member states (as we have today). I also see that many EU politicians today just don't listen to the people (only a handful have any balls) or some pride in being a person of the people or their nation. The rest are career politicians, that hope if they suck up to the EU then they may land a cushy job afterwards. All the top brass of the EU have no accountability, un-elected by the people and seem to do what they please. And what does leaving the EU got to do with law. If the UK has made any progress in the last 40+ years, it will retain certain human right laws. Leaving doesn't mean we have to toss the baby out with the bath water. Of course PM Cameron could go from being a wishy washy spineless fellow to a complete dictator (although that's a stretch of the imagination). I just think the UK does need a shakeup, a wake up call to get back into manufacturing, back to self rule, back to accountability and back to being independent. I would love to see less service industry like the City of London (banks) and more product and manufacturing. As they say, never put all your apples on one basket, sadly the UK has done just that (over time). Everything got sold off and now when the world sneezes the UK catches a cold. Yes, we need some major surgery, a few years of tough times (financially) but believe the UK (after they turn of East Enders, Fun in the Sun,endless cooking shows and Stars in their own Eyes) can bonce back. Membership to the EU has made us a lazy nation! Any devaluation of the Pound can be a good thing for UK manufacturing, but of course we got to make something first! Leaving may mean out of the EU but it doesn't have to mean "Out of Europe" or the World! Rant over! |
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Post by crojoe on May 14, 2016 8:34:40 GMT 1
Maybe so CJ..considering your whole post. My thoughts are that it is all too late. Prior to joining the club i would have agreed, but we are too far in for an exit. There is no way UK can rebuild a manufacturing industry beyond what is there already, and those are all struggling. It can be done cheaper elsewhere, and that has always been the way....low labour costs equals low production cost, the economy thrives until people demand better living standards. It would all take too long, and probably never. In the end most people will vote with whatever is best for themselves, and with the bank of England, all political parties (except UKIP), CBI etc all voting remain that is what will happen. Yes, your quite right January, the horse has bolted and in all reality it's too late. Guess it all started when previous governments sold off the family jewels to the highest bidder (under Gordon the gold was sold at a loss by announcing his intent to sell large amounts). Thatcher started the great sell off. Hardly anything of worth belongs to the UK government or even a citizen now. All owned by international consortium's, primarily Arabs. A sad state of affairs, but that's "capitalism" today. |
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Post by fidobsa on May 14, 2016 9:51:05 GMT 1
Yes, I was not old enough to vote in the referendum for joining but would have voted against. These days I agree that UK would be out on a limb if it left the EU. Countries like New Zealand have got new trading partners is Asia and no longer need us to buy their food products etc.
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Post by Carol on May 14, 2016 12:36:26 GMT 1
I was in primary school when the last EU referendum took place. I vividly remembering the teacher losing her temper with another little girl in the class. We were all sitting on the carpet in front of her and she spotted that the girl's parents had pinned a badge on her that said vote out or something. The teacher was furious, making her take it off immediately and labelling the child as racist for having worn it.
40 years on, and the debate does not seem to have changed much.
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Post by swordfish on May 16, 2016 20:36:18 GMT 1
Well what can I say ! I was one of the originals to vote in but having said that in those days everything was white washed to the general public. My recolection of the vote was for a common european market where things could be sold on a level playing field. Low and behold later our laws and way of life were being changed by Brussels; this was not what I voted for. But now I think the UK is too deep rooted within the EU and I think now an exit would cause a lot of problems purely because we have no export industries everything these days is services and the economy is based on the cost of housing. In or out the bubble will burst once more.
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Post by Carol on May 16, 2016 23:10:51 GMT 1
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Post by crojoe on May 17, 2016 6:37:30 GMT 1
But that's where the problem is Carol... it's all based on digits and services, not actual product and even arts and entertainment is high on the list shown which is one of the first things that goes when times are tough (except for gambling and alcohol... which actual prosper in tough times... and gold shops). But the UK is too dependent on The City of London and we as a nation need to ween ourselves of our dependency and onto making things worthy of export. Sadly it not high on any current or past governments agenda to build the manufacturing sector. This is why I kind of think a fresh start for the UK would be good, but very painful. I doubt many Brits would like to give up many of their pleasures for national pride. We love our trinkets and gadgets, weekend footie, 24/7/363 shopping. Easier to just pay the EU bill and “let bygones be bygones”. |
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Post by Carol on May 17, 2016 8:42:03 GMT 1
The list is of things we sell to foreigners. Its exports, not domestic consumption.
Some of the things are highly susceptible to an economic downturn in the countries which we sell to e.g. luxury goods such as very expensive handbags. However other things just morph into a new type of sales. For example, when there is a recession, people cut the amount they spend on eating out and drinking in restaurants and pubs, but the sales of groceries and alcohol for drinking at home spikes up.
(BTW the word you are looking for is "defensives" - that's the type of thing people buy irrespective of economic conditions e.g. food.)
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Post by crojoe on May 17, 2016 13:49:12 GMT 1
The list is of things we sell to foreigners. Its exports, not domestic consumption. Some of the things are highly susceptible to an economic downturn in the countries which we sell to e.g. luxury goods such as very expensive handbags. However other things just morph into a new type of sales. For example, when there is a recession, people cut the amount they spend on eating out and drinking in restaurants and pubs, but the sales of groceries and alcohol for drinking at home spikes up. (BTW the word you are looking for is "defensives" - that's the type of thing people buy irrespective of economic conditions e.g. food.) Yep, food and water the basic essentials of life, problem is most of it is imported to the UK or owned by foreign consortium's (water). Time to build a well in the UK (wonder what permits are required for that?). We have a well here in Zagreb, although we still drink Bundic water (I'm even thinking about installing a fountain in my garden - LOL!). |
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