Shard

For those UK politically inclined...a heads up on the first political debate on EU membership within living memory. Tomorrow at 7PM GMT on LBC radio (digital stream etc).

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...e-9215354.html

Paul_Shepherd

I don't think many of the British public care really until its too late, Britain was already way too involved with Europe in my opinion, it was one of the reasons for me wanting to leave Britain (amongst my many other reasons....plus the allure of what Canada offered me personally)

Not sure if things have changed but the average member of the British public was more concerned about how the England soccer team would fair rather than the political future of the UK...very sad really.

Shard

Britain's "involvement" with Europe has so far been a good thing IMO. Although Europe is not a priority issue at present I think many will become interested once a referendum occurs.

Tonight's debaters:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26729567

orly

Nice twist from Nigel to start off there.

Shard

Yes quite to tricky. Clegg could have painted EU as a great club all would want to join. Are you watchig or just listening.

orly

In work so just listening along

Shard

7% v 75% of UK laws made by EU? quite a variance.

Novocastrian

I've just read the newspaper report on this "debate". The word side-show was prevalent of course. A Lib-Dem party condemned to dying at the next election because of entering the coalition and abandoning their stance against Uni fees hikes, vs a no hope Daily Mail-reader nonsense party headed up by an idiot.

Next?

Shard

A debate is a debate. Both passionate about their stance for or against the EU. Two hundred journos in attendance, more a precursor than a side-show.

orly

Seems Nigel was widely accepted as the "winner". Both said their piece pretty well but I think people have just grown tired of anything Nick Clegg says.

Was a bit of a masterstroke from Farage to open with "If you were presented with these facts now would you join?"

Pretty much won it right there.

Shard

I think Nige won the battle but lost the war. His "we made it up" comment on the 75% EU laws and his scaremongering about 485 million Europeans will only go so far. One of the media articles termed him a pantomime villain and despite the merits in some of his arguments, I thought that post this debate that is increasingly what he will be seen to be.