jackytoo

UK exports to Europe are falling whilst they have risen to the rest of the world. The USA is our biggest single importer. UK had a potential market in all the emerging Commonwealth countries but they gambled everything on joining the EC. I wish they would kick out the UK. It would be proved we would be better off without the EC.

missile

I have friends from many european countries, not just spain. Many of the spaniards I know do not like the EU. All complain about escalating prices since joining the euro and many rue the change from Pasetas, some hark back to when Franco was in power.

missile

I am currently working on the Gorgon Project for Chevron Australia. Head office is in Perth. We have friends in Adelaide and Sydney.

Perth is a good choice to re-locate. I am sure you will enjoy

HBG

I think 60% of our exports go to the EU, which is a lot nearer than the US.

I don't think anyone knows what will happen if we effectively leave the EU, but it would stop us worrying about a referendum, if nothing else.

On a personal basis I can hardly argue differently, having made use of the facilities granted by our membership of the EU for many years by running businesses and living in an EU country.

Actually, it wouldn't take a lot for me to return to the UK. I'm witnessing Spain going down the pan all around me and I'm sick of having to continuously check the exchange rate because my very existence depends on it.

And I'm not comfortable in my own skin any more, my dermatologist has told me to stay out of the sun. I've found that it's not so easy and I look daft in a wide-brimmed sun hat.

dunmovin

Try Freemantle, the housing is cheaper and a very easy commute to Perth.If I remember correctly, a cheap 15 min trip on a train to Perth's CBD...

Just watch out for the seagulls if you are eating outside. The buggers will steal anything before you get it in your mouth.

Lenox

If 'we' (the Brits) leave the EU then 'we' (the British residents in Spain) will lose our health benefits, our residencia, our vote and our influence. It might be good for the UK to leave Europe (in my opinion, it's not), but it's certainly not good for us.
In fact, when Scotland leaves the United Kingdom (same thing?), and promptly applies to join Europe, I think I'd try and get a wee Scottish passport the noo.

Dick Dasterdly

Sorry it doesn't work like that.

If the UK left the EU there is little doubt reciprical arrangements would soon be in place much to the benefit of both countries and our custom would be every bit as highly valued as it is now or was before EU membership.

Take Norway outside the EU,( as we should be), as a typical example and operating in almost all respects as an EU country with many of its citizens living quite happily in Spain and their numbers are increasing all the time.

Norway has a massive income from her extensive fishing grounds alone, which were second in size only to ours before we allowed them to be decimated by the EU with no little help from the Spanish.

I'm sure with proper management and exclusion of the Spanish cowboys, they could eventually be returned to their former glory and once again be a very significant source of income.

Pit Bull.

Plus how many tens of billions of pounds have we handed over, bailing countries out it's not as though we can afford it ourselves, I think the UK would prosper outside of the EU, we are in recession and have no growth for a few years now, while being in the EU.

Dick Dasterdly

As history shows, we've always proved the doom-mongers wrong over the years when the chips were down.
We can do it again.
Thats what we're all about.

Pit Bull.

We can still be the best country in the world, we just need to take control back of our great country and give Europe the finger.

Lenox

The old 'Dunkirk' Spirit. We beat them before and all that. Remember Mafeking!
Ahh, the pesky Europeans, smelling of garlic and sauerkraut.
No, I'd rather stay a European with full European rights than worry about what's good for the people of Croydon.
Of course, I have no British pension or vote, having left when I was thirteen. Should I have stayed? Perhaps not.

Domino

why would we "lose our vote" ?
we retain our UK voting rights for 15 years.

IMHO the vote should not be that of a nation but of an individual, where you can vote in the country you are resident in.

And the last I heard Scotland is unlikely to get EU membership.

Pit Bull.

That's interesting, I never thought about Scotland's independence bid, will it mean they will no longer be part of Europe and have to try and get back in if they want, do the Scots know this, it might help with theYes' vote, lol

HBG

People still talk about the UK having a say in the matter, still ramble on about having a referendum, the leader of UKIP was on the TV earlier and I couldn't find the off switch quick enough and had to listen to the clown for almost a minute.

There will be no choice, we will be thrown out, they've had enough of us and our veto. We will be like Norway, but without the fish and the oil, and 60 million more mouths to feed.

Maybe we will be better off, though it's hard to imagine how. Our main income comes from the City of London, currently the gateway to Europe for the rest of the world. What's going to happen if we're not in Europe?

I suppose it will be some compensation when we're standing next to bankers in the dole queue.

Pit Bull.

Why would they throw us out for using their veto system? Personally I hope they do after nearly 5 years of no growth and recession and an extra million people out of work, just how much worse can it get not being in with the losers?