Interesting suggestion

I would counter that political and economic union way beyond a mere common market is always what the EU has driven towards, but it compromised that mission through the Big Bang enlargement in 2005 (and earlier by admitting Greece and Spain in the 1980s). Also, you should bear in mind that any common market has four fundamental freedoms: goods, services, capital and, crucially, people. It seems to me that the main gripe of those favouring Brexit is this last freedom, making British membership of even a simple common market hard to tolerate for them.

Posted By: King on February 20th 2016 at 11:40:41

Message Thread

I've worked with and against EU institutions for the last fifteen years or so (General Chat) - Old Man, Feb 20, 11:02:53
- Very good post until you said it hinges on trade... We are massively net importers (General Chat) - Boris, Feb 20, 15:37:17
- Let's be honest we don't what's best - we can't know can we. (General Chat) - Men without hats, Feb 20, 15:17:25
- Everything that's wrong with the EU as it is..... (General Chat) - archroy, Feb 20, 14:51:08
  - Hear Hear! The EU's main function seems to be to provide lucrative jobs (General Chat) - dennis moore, Feb 20, 16:01:54
- Agreed. Plus I don't trust the Tories so I like the idea of the EU having a say (n/m) (General Chat) - Larry Hagman, Feb 20, 13:48:24
  - The Tories want to stay in. You don't trust that? (General Chat) - Boris, Feb 20, 15:44:49
    - Some do some don't! (n/m) (General Chat) - DrDublin, Feb 20, 16:29:55
  - vmt ^^^ (n/m) (General Chat) - DrDublin, Feb 20, 14:45:55
- The other problem with the European Parliament is that (General Chat) - Jim, Feb 20, 13:28:51
- Workers rights and protections & Human Rights is a big factor for me (General Chat) - South_West_Canary, Feb 20, 12:55:57
  - VMT - there is a good chance the tories would steer us towards the US model (General Chat) - Mecagoenti, Feb 20, 13:58:21
  - Agreed (n/m) (General Chat) - Larry Hagman, Feb 20, 13:51:01
- A good argument... but fuck em (General Chat) - harry boulders, Feb 20, 11:14:12
  - Interesting suggestion (General Chat) - King, Feb 20, 11:40:41
  - other countries wouldn't leave though (General Chat) - Mecagoenti, Feb 20, 11:17:56
    - Does Britain really have that much economic power these days anyway? (General Chat) - I Am Hoot, Feb 20, 12:15:23
      - Our main export is services, which keep the economy afloat (General Chat) - King, Feb 20, 12:34:09
        
        What's our balance of trade with the rest of the EU? Tariffs can work both ways. (n/m) (General Chat) - dennis moore, Feb 20, 13:27:45
        
        Deficit in trade in goods, surplus in trade in services (General Chat) - King, Feb 20, 13:57:31
      - Definitely agree that UK needs Europe more than the other way around (General Chat) - Mecagoenti, Feb 20, 12:23:33
        
        But that's not what the evidence shows is it (General Chat) - Jim, Feb 20, 13:06:09
        
        Where are these figures that show the EU is so reliant on the UK? (General Chat) - King, Feb 20, 14:11:51
        
        Not reliant but trade deficit of ?59 billion in 2014 (General Chat) - Jim, Feb 20, 14:54:15
        
        Do you think, let's say China, will take us more seriously as just Britain or as part of (General Chat) - APB, Feb 20, 13:14:15
        
        I think we would lose in some areas and probably gain in others. I (General Chat) - Jim, Feb 20, 14:43:56
        
        Frankfurt would supplant London as the main European financial centre (General Chat) - Old Man, Feb 20, 12:32:19
        
        yep, long term it would be disastrous for the UK (General Chat) - Mecagoenti, Feb 20, 12:43:22
        
        Is it a divorce or an amputation? (General Chat) - APB, Feb 20, 12:29:38
    - Or they just might (General Chat) - harry boulders, Feb 20, 11:25:56
- A really interesting summary and echoes my reasons for voting in (General Chat) - Duck, Feb 20, 11:13:49
- The argument about the EU budget not being signed off is a red herring (General Chat) - King, Feb 20, 11:13:18

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