I think the collapse comes before we actually opt out.Given the chances of any major economic player actually investing in the UK with this question mark over our economic future are practically zero now.
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barryheadwound Mul-ti-pass? Multipass!,
Wed 23 Jan 2013, 12:17,
archived)
yeah but never mind that, someone on Big Brother dun a cheat
HappyToast Groat froth,
Wed 23 Jan 2013, 12:22,
archived)
Bill Hicks/American Gladiators...
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barryheadwound Mul-ti-pass? Multipass!,
Wed 23 Jan 2013, 12:26,
archived)
Was just thinking this.'Go back to bed, America!'
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Bourbon Fox Bourbon is a moron,
Wed 23 Jan 2013, 12:28,
archived)
I think we can expect to start seeing even Tory bigwigs making arguments in favour of staying in the EUNot necessarily arguments in favour of the EU itself, but certainly for staying in it and having some measure of say in the structures. Like it or not, everyone has to accept that Europe as a whole is and always will be, by dint of geographical accident even if shared culture is less important now than before, our major trading partner. It is also tied in a large trading bloc. Quitting this bloc, and then having our economy governed by its rules while having absolutely no sway over those rules, is ridiculous suicide. The Tories have reasonable advice, the same as anyone in power, both from their own advisers (some of whom even know their arses from their elbows) and from the Civil Service and from businesses, and I think most major businesses would panic at the idea of leaving the EU and being at the mercy of trade laws and a sterling left loose.
I'm not even sure people like Farrage want to genuinely leave the EU; maybe I'm naive but I'd hope he wants to shock the EU into a radical rethink of its setup. He does, after all, have no chance of actually achieving any real power except perhaps as a small party aligning with the Tories in the next Parliament. I'm not even sure I wouldn't agree with the idea of restructuring the EU significantly, though I highly doubt that my preferences would align much with Farrage. Maybe I'm wrong, and he'll virulently oppose it with a full heart.
Anyway, the point of this almost pointless spiel is that I reckon we can now see the Tories split into a painfully choreographed set of groupings. The "EU friendly", who will argue to stay in the EU (a small group, perhaps fronted by people like Ken Clarke); the "EU neutral" who will argue that there are many good things about the EU and the things that are less pleasing for Britain are more easily changed by standing in Brussels pissing out than standing in Dover pissing in (hello, "Dave"); and the "anti EU" who will make reasonably weak arguments about how much the EU costs and be rapidly shot down by both the other groupings (probably "George" will be the fall guy there, he's a dead duck anyway).
(I'm not even sure people like Farrage want to genuinely leave the EU; maybe I'm naive but I'd hope he wants to shock the EU into a radical rethink of its setup. He does, after all, have no chance of actually achieving any real power except perhaps as a small party aligning with the Tories in the next Parliament. I'm not even sure I wouldn't agree with the idea of restructuring the EU significantly, though I highly doubt that my preferences would align much with Farrage. Maybe I'm wrong, and he'll virulently oppose it with a full heart.
Anyway, the point of this almost pointless spiel is that I reckon we can now see the Tories split into a painfully choreographed set of groupings. The "EU friendly", who will argue to stay in the EU (a small group, perhaps fronted by people like Ken Clarke); the "EU neutral" who will argue that there are many good things about the EU and the things that are less pleasing for Britain are more easily changed by standing in Brussels pissing out than standing in Dover pissing in (hello, "Dave"); and the "anti EU" who will make reasonably weak arguments about how much the EU costs and be rapidly shot down by both the other groupings (probably "George" will be the fall guy there, he's a dead duck anyway).
boris the spider,
Wed 23 Jan 2013, 12:28,
archived)
It's a massively damaging way of attempting to shore up his leadership position in any case.
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barryheadwound Mul-ti-pass? Multipass!,
Wed 23 Jan 2013, 12:37,
archived)