“No but had he gone along to Brussels with the intention to alter the rules regarding the real issues and then came away with everything he wanted, then I am sure the majority would vote to stay in.”
I most certainly would not. It is not the rules of the EU as such that are the problem (though they are problem enough). It is the institution itself. It is a fundamentally flawed organisation which had its place, in its original form, fifty years or more ago. However the world has changed. The EU has changed as well (beyond recognition from fifty years ago) but not for the better. It is an interventionalist, stifling, controlling bureaucracy which aims to micro manage every aspect of business and people’s lives. It has little democratic accountability (MEPs only have the power of veto over proposed legislation. They cannot initiate it or repeal it).
It is quite clear that the fundamental issues which affect the UK will never be addressed. Among the principle of these is the fact that the UK has a GDP per head far in excess of the lesser economies. This will mean an inevitable flow of wealth from the UK to elsewhere with no concomitant benefit in return (what does Poland provide to the UK in return for the vast sums of money going into the pockets of Poles living here, much of which is retuned to Poland?). It was also clear that Mr Cameron was never going to achieve “reform” of the EU’s principle aims – and indeed why should he be allowed to? We are only one of 28 members. This agreement (if much of it is not struck down by the European Court of Justice on the grounds of discrimination) is not reform at all. Most of it comprises minor temporary concessions to the UK alone. Some of these concessions do not kick in for some years and most of them expire after a few years. They are sweeteners to persuade the UK electorate to vote to remain.
But these are all peripheral issues. As has been mentioned, the principle issue is one of sovereignty. If any doubters, waverers or “don’t knows” are swayed by this load of drivel they are more foolish than I thought. There is nothing the UK can gain from the EU which he could not achieve by itself. But an awful lot of damage is continually inflicted on this country by our membership of the EU. Mr Cameron’s negotiation was about damage limitation, not reform. He has achieved some minor and temporary limitation but nothing that could be described as reform. If the other 27 EU nations are happy with it as it is that’s a matter for them. The way it is is the way it will always be and the only solution for the UK is to get out asap. Mr Cameron describes Brexit as a “leap in the dark”. I would prefer to describe it as a leap into the sunlight.