E U

[BlueToffee]

After DC's speech this morning, IN or OUT?

[Old_Geezer]

Didn't hear the speech but it isn't going to change my opinion formed over years.

[Old_Geezer]

Ah it's a vote pledge eh ? I'll believe it when I see it.
Out obviously.

[Famous5]

Won't happen - depends on DC being there after next election, and as time goes on the less likely that looks

[SlackAlice]

DCs speech was only designed to keep them in power until 2018, a promise that would easily be broken at a latter stage as not in the 'country's best interests'.

I originally didn't want in to the EU, on the grounds that we joined on the wrong terms. Now we are in the EU we need to re-structure our membership terms in order to continue. I believe being in has more advantages than being out.

[DangerUXD]

No one can say until we know what the results of the renegotiation of our position yealds.

[DangerUXD]

It is a pretty good tactic though, he's managed to pass a huge problem to Milliband who will have to formulate some sort of pledge of his own. I agree it is designed to help win the next election but that's what politicians do. I think the British public do need the EU reformed so no doubt Cameron will try and get us a good deal then the vote will be on staying with the new deal or out altogether.

[jake-the-peg]

Totally irrelevant

Unless this speech undermines UKIP's support and the Lib Dems supporters forgive Nick Clegg Ed Milliband is going to be the next Prime Minister.

[jake-the-peg]

Why do you think Milliband will have to come up with a pledge?

This is an issue that splits the Tory Party - UKIP is draining Tory not Labour votes and this will ensure that dissatisfied Liberals vote Labour not Tory.

Right now, barring an economic miracle, Ed Milliband just needs to keep his nerve, hold a steady course and he's in

[DangerUXD]

Brave prediction jake. I think this will drag the EU sceptics away from UKIP. Any Tories that are considering UKIP would recognise that it would only help Labour, this should tempt them to the tories on the grounds that you do need to be in power to change things. UKIP is attractive as a protest vote in EP parliament elections etc but in a GE I think any potential UKIP temptees will be tempted back to the Tories by this.

[DangerUXD]

Milliband will have to come up with something or everything else will be obscured until he does. The first questions the political interviewers will be asking any Labour MP will be about their party's position on an EU referendum. Like it or not he'll need something. Also Labour is far from united on the EU.

[whiskeryron]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/24/world/europe/cameron-britain-referendum-european-union.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

WR.

[modeller]

I listened to it carefully and I think Nick Robinson who described DCs answers to other questions as a fudge summed it up nicely.

DC effectively has kicked it down the road for 5 years and only then if he is PM and the Tories are re-elected. He said he would put it in the manifesto that he would negotiate for reform but despite being asked he wouldn't spell out what specific reforms he was referring to.
In effect "trust me to do the best for British Interests ". Meaningless words ! Trust ? Oh yes like he refused to give the us a referendum on the Lisbon treaty.
W
In the next 5+ years more countries will join the EU which will result in a further flood of immigrants.

[Baldric]

///Provided he wins the next election///

Yeh, right!

[modeller]

However Labour is no alternative . They racked up a structural debt of 5.2pc
in 2007 which was the highest in the western world double that of Greece and had we been in the Euro we would have been the one asking for a bail out.
No other party is in the running . We have to stick with the Tories and hope for the best or vote for another Blair/Brown type era . I think Ed is doing quite a good job and might do better if he sacked Brown's right hand man Ed Balls but he has a long way to go to ensure a Labour victory.

[ludwig]

// Totally irrelevant - Unless this speech undermines UKIP's support //

That's the whole purpose of the announcement. I'd be amazed if any such referendum actually happened though.

[youngmafbog]

Out; but I dont trust Cameron.

Hasn't he said this before ?

[New Judge]

So let me get Mr Cameron’s announcement straight:

(1) The Tories win an overall majority at the next election.

(2) Mr Cameron will then renegotiate the UK’s relationship with the EU (and presumably arrange for the UK to be exempt from many of the measures about which the UK electorate are uneasy).

(3) Then he will ask the electorate whether or not they want to remain in the EU on the new terms.

In realistic terms then:

(1) Most unlikely.

(2) Absolutely out of the question. I don’t blame the EU. You cannot have a club with different rules for different members though I take issue with German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle who suggested that you cannot join a football club and then expect them to play rugby. What has happened with the EU is that we joined a football club and they are now playing snooker.

(3) Er…..what new terms?

You’ll forgive me if I don’t hold my breath.

[New Judge]

Apparently Herr Westerwelle's first name falls foul of AB's censor. It is the same as the political blogger who takes his name from the anti-parliamentarian who made his name on November 5th.

[AB Editor]

How odd NJ. We'll take that out... Edit: done.

[jake-the-peg]

Do you think really think this speach will cause UKIP to crumble Ludwig?

Me neither

This is interesting too

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21161842

The French foreign minister says France will welcome any businesses that leave the UK, should the country exit the European Union.