Can we afford this?

[Kathyan]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12633382

We are in a financial mess and the EU says we must pay. How much more can we take?

[mxyzptlk]

Probably not - but that's not stopped them in the past

[nonomaybe]

Well Kathyn looking at what has happened over the past decade or so , I reckon there is a lot more that we will take, willingly or not. Our so - called leaders know that we are so supine that they can get away with most things without any comeback.
Unfortunately it keeps going wrong at the ballot box, local as well as national and I fear it always will, until we get a party that will actually do what WE the voter wants, for better or worse!!

Sorry about that!!!!!!!!

[rov1100]

If they can't make it, not to worry. We have just doubled our overseas aid budget.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Only Britain, Ireland and Sweden permitted free access to workers from A8 countries in 2004. It is thought that many will now be attracted to Germany and Austria, which are geographically nearer.///

We will have to see if they make for Germany or Austria, and how long will the Germans and the Austrians put up with it.

[kinell]

i have had enough now,

i am not paying a penny more tax or ni until this stupid and irresponsible government stop wasting my money

this new lot must put right the hopeless errors of previous governments..

when outer mongolia joins the eu as the latest poncing country (you dont think the eu will confine itself to europe do you?).....well i hope i will be dead before that.... i shall certainly be skint

[anotheoldgit]

It is not only the indigenous population that is sick to the back teeth with all the immigrants flooding into this country, but our first and second generation immigrants are equally fed up.

I was talking to an young Asian chap today, and he was more infuriated with the Government's immigration policy than even me, in comparison he made me feel almost a hand-wringing Liberal Lefftie.

[McMouse]

Whether we can afford it or not, this is what the government of the day signed up to.

[andy-hughes]

I am curious as to exactly how much our grasp on facts and figures is accurate, and what is spun to us by the media.

I cannot believe that any government is actually stupid enough to give away our money to immigrants who are not entitled, even though that is the widely pereceived perception.

I have always believed that a properly run imigration policy is of benefit to the UK, and I would like to think that any government would be keen to convince its electorate that this is exactly what we have - after all, the next election will depend on it.

That said, i am not so naiive as to think that burocrats who are unacountable for the money they give away, will get it seriously wrong - I just live in hope because i am an optimist by nature.

[Old_Geezer]

How a county's welfare is run should be a concern only of the sovereign country concerned. It is no one else's business and we should tell the EU (or whoever) where they can shove their demands. When the outside interferers pay the costs then they can have some say in how it is distributed.

As an aside I do wish threads would not rely on links to show what they are about. a link should be for additional info only.

[ummmm]

We are in a financial mess and the EU says we must pay. How much more can we take?

Was the question....^^

[Old_Geezer]

And who of us told someone they could sign up to it ? I don't recall a referendum. So why are agreements the population fundamentally disagree with not torn up ? Be reliable when the people have spoken & agreed something, anything else foisted on them ought not be worth the paper it is scribbled on. It seems to be a ratchet effect. If something is having difficulty getting signed you may try again and again until it is. Once signed you are apparently unable to get out. One cog further along, and no way back to sanity.

[Old_Geezer]

The question was just a start point. The answer is almost any amount because the UK population don't want to make a fuss and get into trouble with the authorities. It'd probably take starvation or something to raise the necessary opposition.

[squarebear]

Why would there be a referendum? Surely in that case, there should be one for every decision the government make.

I don't remember being asked if I want to drive on the left hand side of the road but I am still expected to do so.

[youngmafbog]

This will continue until we pul out of the EU, lock stock and barrel.

[andy-hughes]

As anyone who travels anywhere in Europe can confirm, regulations like Health And Safety are simply ignored in other EU territories - it seems that only the UK enforces the mass of petty regulations that the EU dictates - the remainder of its member nations simply ignore them, with no apparent sanction.

What would happen if the UK simply refused to hand over money as dictated?

[anotheoldgit]

Why did only Britain, Ireland and Sweden, permit the immediate free access to workers from the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in 2004, when all the other European countries put a block on them?

[bazwillrun]

"it seems that only the UK enforces the mass of petty regulations that the EU dictates"

because it creates thousands of jobs for petty little bureaucrats we so love in the public sector

GET OUT OF THE EU NOW !.

and to those that say we cant get out etc etcc, take heed of events in countries like Libya Egypt Tunisia etc

if the people have the will anything is possible

[Old_Geezer]

There should be consultation for every important decision made, yes. Otherwise it isn't a democracy. The bread & butter almost irrelevant stuff they can sort out without asking. Do you think which side of the road we started using is important ? Changing over might be though. Anyway it need not be a referendum if our representatives actually sought the opinion of those they are supposed to represent, and voted accordingly, instead of trying to stay in with their party.