EU Referendum

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I expect whoever owns the rights to the work of The Clash will find their coffers overflowing by June 23rd.

How are my fellow UK subjects voting?

I'll be voting to stay, much as it turns my stomach to 'back' both Cameron and Blair, because I don't trust the Tories not to get drunk on doing sh***y things once whatever protections for minimal dignity in life remain are lifted. I can't take concerns about 'sovereignty' seriously when so many of the same people think nothing of selling off national necessities and state functions to foreign corporations (and governments).

At least I get to snub George Galloway, Nigel Farridge and Ian f**kwit Smith in one go.

You?

Haha, yes, it's a shame our flag is only ever brought out for far-right campaigns.

I'll be voting to stay. I'm a big supporter of the EU, and I think all the members of it should be BFF's. Cameron is so wrapped up in capitalism that all he cares about are free-trade deals. I'm embarrassed of all the Brexit hesitation that we've had over the last few years. To the rest of the EU, the UK has been the kid invited to the party who keeps moaning that he wants to go home - we're kill joys.

The EU has massive potential, we could lead the way with science, green innovations, allied military (yes I support an EU army), peace keeping, disaster relief, trading, etc etc. If we leave, I don't think we'll be a significant part of it. Certainly not as much as "Leave the EU" campaigners think we will.

I don't understand how anybody could want to stay in the EU especially the UK which has the whole anglosphere to count on, it's a sinking ship with more bailouts and millions of refugees on the way. If you don't leave and the EU collapses then how much worse will it have been just leaving now? There is no future to the EU, it's already dead, save yourself. You'll be more influential on the world stage as an independent country, the world see Angela Merkel as the fuhrer of the European Union while Cameron and Hollande are hanger-ons.

The UK has the whole anglosphere to count on now.

I'm voting to stay because, as things stand, the EU is what's propping up any minimal dignity of life. Things have got bad enough already. I worry what the Tories would do free of any restraint the EU presently provides.

The 'leave' camp is pinning its hopes on immigration/border 'control' as an issue. The 'stay' camp is pinning its hopes on wealthy business owners saying it would be bad for the UK to leave. Neither argument, in that regard, is particularly inspiring.

I'm not a huge fan of the EU as is - some bits I like, others I don't, though by inclination I am pro-European. Like helloarchy, I think there's a lot of potential there.

God yes. The right threatening to thcweam and thcweam until their thick unless they get their way has not been the most mature of moments.

I'm voting to leave, but not becuase immigration. I'm a trade liberal, and broadly pro economic migration.

The EU has vastly overstepped the intention of the European Coal and Steel Union. That was about using trade for peace, not this massively inflated political project hijacked by a particular brand of European politician.

Countries like France have had a history of trying to use the US playing countries off each other. These countries don't cease to have a national interest, it is not. What tend to happen is they ignore the EU laws that don't suit, whist expecting us to follow.

We have a 900 years of development of our laws. They idea that through and undemocratic, bureaucratic process we can have laws that overrule out own democratic laws is a farce.

Just look at EU cookie law. A bunch of octogenarian bureaucrats got in a fuss about solving an problem that didn't exist and those likely to abuse wouldn't follow anyway, whilst ignoring the real privacy issues on the web they are clueless.

Did you forget it was the left who where at first most skeptical of the EU, and Conservatives who backed it most?

It was Labour politicians who were concerned the direction it was going. Mostly they have been vindicated.

It is rather nice to watch the Tories squirm over the issue - trying to make their minds up between British Bulldog or the Gravy Train, I suspect.

In all seriousness though, I am really torn. I'm old enough to have been out on the streets protesting when Maggie Thatcher was PM, and I think that Cameron's buddies are doing a lot that won't easily be repaired. But, it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth to think that my vote may boil down to a vote of no-confidence in the government rather than the issue at hand.

In principle, I'm an internationalist, and I do think that the EU has held our government to account when it has got too big for its boots at times - especially in terms of access to justice and minority rights. I am always saddened when one of those ridiculous one in a million cases is used to demean human rights legislation - so often the only side of the story told.

At the same time, the EU's lack of accountability is not appropriate for an organisation that claims to represent so many people - too much of what goes on there is behind closed doors for my comfort.

A good example would be the recent situation in Greece. How often have you heard in the media about the fact that a huge amount of Greece's overspending was on the military? Where were they buying most of this kit? Oddly enough, a huge amounts of it was from the arms and aerospace companies of other EU nations, including the UK and Germany. So when we hear about huge sums of 'bailout' money, you have to wonder which debts are likely to get paid off first - my bet is that it won't be pension funds! Too much corporate schmoozing for my comfort, and a lot of the big technocrats are only as patriotic as their tax consultant tells them to be! Even if there is nothing untoward is going on, they certainly do a convincing job of making it look that way, very often.

So, like I say, still waiting for the clinching argument - otherwise I'll just have to biff Cameron on the nose!

At least I've found the only other 'remaining' thread that seems to be at risk of losing momentum in the run up to the elections.

Anyway, I'll be voting against the E.U bylaws that discourage voters from being themselves on topics they must take a national opinion and stance on.

I know that the Internet system crashed before the weekend, and the postal votes were extended to Friday.
Of course the other big thing happening at the moment, is the European UFEA Cup.

I'm pleased that my fellow country Wales are evenly matched in the group running so far.

"Stay" here.... but I don't agree with a lot of the "Remain" campaign, who paint an excessively rosy picture of the EU. Let's face it, it has problems. (Ask Greece. And then ask if THEY want out- you might be surprised.)

Frankly, I am in favour of a Byzantine beaurocracy tying European nations together in a mesh of irrational trade obligations. That's the whole point- undermine their ability to Pursue a Vigourously Independant Foreign Policy towards each other as they did up til 1951, with a 7-figure body count. I can thank the mealy-mouthed stuffed shirts in Brussels for the fact that I'm not lying in a mass grave somewhere near Antwerp.

At least we can vote them out if they do.

It's very much "out" from me.

I’m not ashamed to say I’m Euro-sceptic. Even though I’ve voted, there are always details about a referendum you have to take into account.

I’m almost entirely certain, that the European Court of Human Rights convention has dictated enough to us over the years, and that we have had to settle for second best. Culture erosion, having zero tolerance from austerity cuts, (setting our own rules over migration), and China has already stolen enough of our trade, not to mention investments into mammoth schemes. The Government, have frittered the countries tax payers money away on high speed trains and glossy leaflets , cutting back on social services and overworking the NHS, all because they’re failing to keep migrants on here after six years of service.)
It’s all a load of unspoken written rubbish. The E.U didn’t make us, it was voted in by proxy as a way out of government leadership into the hands of E.U foreign investors, leading to pay cuts, redundancies and hopeless back to work voluntary schemes. Its an ignorant supply of non-negotiation.
Reforms under acts of parliament, are made all the worse for the banking crisis. I see it being down to high rise mortgage rates and bailouts for buyers that need paying back eventually.

The E.U is an abolition of time, resources and money.(we were fine before the banking crisis, moving along at an economically steadier pace.) The biggest problem is the loss of manual industry and ludicrous bail outs. I’m afraid that students here are also deluded if they think they can travel safely within E.U unregulated borders and customs security terminals in the current climate,(whilst bearing an E.U passport). Study abroad, then come home.

The things we have to protect, are wages and the people within our economic infrastructure, who have lived and integrated here all their lives(as well as E.U reformists) and want to stay put.
An internship is only going to end after a year or so and is only applicable up to the age of 30 whereas an apprenticeship is up to age 25.

I’m backing the Australian points style system and fairer immigration laws that my country will make after over forty years of E.U austerity and buy to let schemes. We need more social housing for the disabled and qualified workers who can speak the language so that our care homes and NHS won’t tolerate under shortages.

Out of all this, I know I am biased for not voting for reforms which I know won’t exist but this is all part of the governments D.I.Y schemes to prop up the soon to be 33 countries in the E.U.

All Brexiteers (non-E.U campaigners) are sick of totalitarianism and false reserve. The right to remain independent still stands. We want it back.

The modern world should be entitled to take a stand on these choices. Even if you are temporarily undeterred.