Steve_

Surely the title of this thread is the real reason the UK should not leave the EU - because whatever happens, the UK is clearly not leaving Europe!

I predict a wide variety of cataclysmic events followed by the population of the UK being wiped out by a massive tsunami if it attempts to do so...

I thought this article basically summed it up: U.K. trade could face cold reception from former colonies such as Canada - The Globe and Mail

I.e. Canada doesn't give a shit about trade with the UK.

Anyway, Boris co-opting Nigel's drivel about Obama and his Kenyan roots making him an anti-colonial has pretty much sunk the whole thing because even the dumbest voter realizes they're talking crap.

mrken30

Will it screw up soccer? Will teams be able to employ European players so easily? That's what half the voting population wants to know.

SultanOfSwing

Do they still have the rule about having no more than three non-EU players in the match side? That would be interesting to see play out if they did leave since all players would be non-EU ...

Steve_

Oh God, the fate of the UK depends on a stupid game involving kicking a ball around a field.

Maybe Cameron should have gotten the head of UEFA to give a press conference with him instead of Obama.

scot47

No more Eurovision Song Contest ?

md95065

While that would be a major benefit, sadly, a Brexit isn't going to make any difference.

dc koop

One possible consequence is that the UK gets left on the sidelines by Washington.
The Brexit crowd like to quote Norway as an example of a country that does okay without the EU but Britain is not anything like Norway.

mrken30

The Brexit crowd also fail to mention the 3 day week and power cuts prior to joining the EU

scrubbedexpat099

amideislas

Norway is fortunate enough to possess a lot of sustaining natural resources to support a small, highly socialistic population. The UK has few sustaining natural resources and a proportionally huge population to support.

No, not comparable at all. But as long as voters are unwilling or unable to comprehend the difference, the argument sounds plausible.

Again, I can only speculate how angry voters will become after a brexit that renders no improvement. But that's the best-case scenario. Even the brexit camp admits there's likely to be some rough times for a while. Unfortunately, voters have very short memories and precious little patience. Not to mention British addiction to exaggeration, sensationalism, and finger-pointing. The aftermath will be interesting to say the least.

mrken30

Received and returned my ballot today

petitefrancaise

I've heard some strange reasons for the Brexit. This one is possibly the most unexpected.
EU court move will 'shut down' motorsport - Independent.ie

FB peeps of mine were calling for Brexit because staying and being subject to the whims of Brussels will force them to insure the cars they use for motorsport. Along with their lawnmowers and apparently those electric toycars that the kids have.

A strange consequence of leaving the EU will also be that the UK border with France (which is currently Calais) changes to the Kent coast. So all those horrible refugees will be in camps in kent.

The discussion around all this have pandered to the xenophobes and rascists and as far as I can see, the discussion is getting worse and worse.

yellowroom

From an economic standpoint, both sides are throwing around contradicting figures that are impossible to pick apart unless you are an economist yourself. there was a reasonable programme on the BBC last night that looked at the arguments being put forward, and it boiled down to "both sides agree that in the short term, leaving will depress the UK economy, but Brexiters are far more optimistic about the long term effects if we are outside Europe. But no-one really knows for sure - it's all theory and supposition".

So if you look at the immigration argument, Brexiters are positing "we will gain control of our borders", but what neither side is addressing is the 50% of immigrants to the UK that come from outside Europe. Neither side is addressing what happens to current immigrants, British Expats in Europe, nor proposing how to control immigration in future - family based, skills based...? It seems that topic is too difficult to get past the sound-bites for a reasoned debate.

The final argument is around "who governs the UK" and the proportions of law that come from the European Parliament vs Westminster. This argument tends follow the same arguments as in the USA for US state vs federal law, small vs large government, nanny state v free market economy so you get the picture.

What it will boil down to for most people in the voting booth - instinctively do you think it is better for us to be a part of Europe and accepting the good aspects outweigh the bad aspects, or are we better off alone.

And most people I know are unhappy that the future of our country for at least a generation is going to be decided on everyone else's gut reaction. Basically - do you like foreigners or not?

Pulaski

I don't like what the foreigners are doing to the UK, that's one of the main reasons I left.

Lion in Winter

This.

The EU thread in TIO keeps filling up with links about what the British people "believe". Why is that a good basis for making profound decisions about our economic and political future?