[chrisawhitmore]

George Osbourne has ruled out the UK being part of any euro 'clean up fund', as the German government had indicated they wanted, but with Britain dangerously overexposed to problems in the EUropean market, having failed to cultivate BRICS and commonwealth trade to the necessary extent, can Osbourne and the government in general continue this half in, half out policy?

I've included a poll with what I see to be the 3 options, though I would be interested to hear if you can think of others. As always, I look forward to hearing your views.

[Aj12]

Problem is we can't just watch the EU drown. Its our biggest market and its economic problems are already affecting us a lot. I don't think we can just sit back and do nothing. Though Osbourne does not have much of a choice since bailout money to the EU whilst saying we have no money is political suicide

[chrisawhitmore]

(Original post by Aj12)
Problem is we can't just watch the EU drown. Its our biggest market and its economic problems are already affecting us a lot. I don't think we can just sit back and do nothing. Though Osbourne does not have much of a choice since bailout money to the EU whilst saying we have no money is political suicide

This is pretty much the issue we face. Our current position is pretty useless IMO, and bailing out the Eurozone is not only political suicide but would also end up raising our interest rates, hurting the deficit reduction plan, so the only real solution I can see is to distance ourselves further and try to make our other markets bigger.

The classic pro-EU fact trotted out is that we trade more with Belgium, a country of 10 million, than with Brazil, a country of nearly 200 million. Perhaps it is time to change this.

[Cannotbelieveit]

If we pull out the EU, the economic aftershocks of a EU collapse would not be as bad than if we were in the EU.

[ukip72]

The EU has been a disaster but only UKIP realise it, David Cameron tries valiantly to convince people he's a eurosceptic though. Just a shame the evidence points to the contrary.

[Morgsie]

The UK is part of the EU but is not part of the Eurozone. Though the UK has leant money to the IMF

[james22]

I really don't think we should pull out. I don't pernoally understand what problems it would cause if we did, but when all three main parties agree on the EU there must be something to it.

[PicardianSocialist]

(Original post by Aj12)
Problem is we can't just watch the EU drown. Its our biggest market and its economic problems are already affecting us a lot. I don't think we can just sit back and do nothing. Though Osbourne does not have much of a choice since bailout money to the EU whilst saying we have no money is political suicide

So we give money to people on the grounds they will then use the money to buy our goods? Why can't we just cut out the middle man and keep our money and our goods?

[DorianGrayism]

(Original post by chrisawhitmore)
This is pretty much the issue we face. Our current position is pretty useless IMO, and bailing out the Eurozone is not only political suicide but would also end up raising our interest rates, hurting the deficit reduction plan, so the only real solution I can see is to distance ourselves further and try to make our other markets bigger.

The classic pro-EU fact trotted out is that we trade more with Belgium, a country of 10 million, than with Brazil, a country of nearly 200 million. Perhaps it is time to change this.

Well, I doubt that most people in Brazil need or want or could buy most things produced by this country.

[DorianGrayism]

(Original post by PicardianSocialist)
So we give money to people on the grounds they will then use the money to buy our goods? Why can't we just cut out the middle man and keep our money and our goods?

Where exactly did you get the idea that our money would be used to buy goods?

[chefdave]

The EU is Western Europe's version of the Soviet Union, we have a moral duty to starve if of the funds it requires so the occupied peoples of Europe can once again achieve liberartion. You think my language is too strong? Then take a look at what is going on in Greece at the moment. If the UK is going to have any sort of future we need to start looking elsewhere for trade, the EU as it stands is a lost cause.

Instead of offering bailouts we should actually be punishing the EU with sanctions.

[Rakas21]

For the moment we should adopt a case by case approach (basically only Spain, Italy, France, Germany and Ireland) as the Eurozone for the moment is farting around.

If and when the Eurozone were to collapse or issue Eurobonds, we should then step in.

[darksideday]

(Original post by james22)
I really don't think we should pull out. I don't pernoally understand what problems it would cause if we did, but when all three main parties agree on the EU there must be something to it.

All the parities including the main 3 get funding from the EU, also for many countries who did join the EU back in 2004 they gave pay rises of the politicians therefore looking after themselves.

[chrisawhitmore]

(Original post by darksideday)
All the parities including the main 3 get funding from the EU, also for many countries who did join the EU back in 2004 they gave pay rises of the politicians therefore looking after themselves.

Not to mention the lovely service the EU provides of taking failed or inconvenient party members and putting them in an important sounding but irrelevant position (eg. David Milliband is tipped as a candidate for President of the Parliament)

[jkneen95]

Wehave the Commonwealth. If we start up a market amongst our commonwealth market, not only would it mean we wouldn't have to put up with being told what to do by the EU, but we would have our own thing with us at the helm, so people wouldn't worry about sovereignty. Britain has already become a backseat EU member due to Cameron's VETO and it would be more healthy for us ni the long run It would encourage more economic and political co operation with some of the rising powers like India

[Moleman1996]

For me we're at the end of the period where we can do this sort of thing, e.g. seperate ourselves from it but remain a member. Soon we'll have to make the all or nothign decision, and I only hope we make the correct one

[Hernán Cortés]

He's too busy partying after watching the Champions League Final.

[Sdiff]

I don't agree with leaving the EU. We benefit greatly from trade and it allows us to specialise more. With that said, we need to leverage our position as a strong economy that is a net contributor to EU funds. Thus, we cannot allow any financial transaction tax to apply to us, especially one that would be paid into a central pot, as this would be a blatant transfer of wealth from Britain and would cripple one of our best industries.