Should the UK leave the political hierarchy of Europe?

[CJ]

Should the UK leave the political hierarchy of Europe?

I was talking to a friend about the high number of votes, over 900,000, polled by the UK Independence Party (UKIP) in the latest general election. They gained no seats but in a PR system would have gained 20 seats from 3.1% of the votes. This would have made them the 4th largest party in a PR vote.

During the conversation I found myself feeling that going into the political elements of the European Union was possibly the worst choice our politicians ever made. I don't feel European really, I'd much rather consider myself a member of a commonwealth of English speaking nations including Canada and Australia. I feel I have more in common with Australia and Austrians than I do the French or Germans.

I don't doubt that the economic benefits of a tax free trading zone appealed at the time that the EU was created but I don't think that it was a good idea in the long term. I think that once we started down the slippery slope of integration we lost our identity and have suffered greatly from that over the last 50 years. Could the UK withdraw from the EU? Should the UK withdraw from the EU?

What do you think?

[Rum]

This is a question that is almost impossible to answer rationally unless one happens to be an economist - and even then its a tough one I suspect. One reads about the 'power' of being part of a large trading block and how much trade we do within that block too, but I have no idea really if I am honest what the facts are. I tend to believe what I generally read on the 'moderate' side that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. So that's the rational side taken care of as much as possible.

For Brits the 'emotional' - or less rational stuff anyway, seems to play a huge part in this issue. Personally I hate nationalism of almost any sort so I don't feel the need to protect British national sovereignty. I also notice that Europe has not had any wars within its borders (of the Union that is) since WW2...a link? Well yes - that was part of the reason the Germans and French kicked it all off.

So for me - rationally or irrationally - let's stay part of Europe and for goodness sakes stop wingeing and hanging around the edges like a nerd at a party!

[Deep Sea Isopod]

Switzerland are doing ok.
£16.4bn p.a. would be better spent elsewhere IMO.

[CJ]

This is a question that is almost impossible to answer rationally unless one happens to be an economist - and even then its a tough one I suspect. One reads about the 'power' of being part of a large trading block and how much trade we do within that block too, but I have no idea really if I am honest what the facts are. I tend to believe what I generally read on the 'moderate' side that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. So that's the rational side taken care of as much as possible.

It is an impossible call to make, I think you are right on that point. Thus it's probably a moot point.

For Brits the 'emotional' - or less rational stuff anyway, seems to play a huge part in this issue. Personally I hate nationalism of almost any sort so I don't feel the need to protect British national sovereignty. I also notice that Europe has not had any wars within its borders (of the Union that is) since WW2...a link? Well yes - that was part of the reason the Germans and French kicked it all off.

I feel, and it's definitely feel, that the British are not natural Europeans. That little strip of water has a lot to answer for. It makes us a natural maritime nation rather than a continental one. That gives us a world view that is fundamentally different. I think the lack of warfare between the European nations since WWII is as much the need for mutual defence against Russia. If there were no EU there would still be NATO and the NATO relationship would have precluded internal warfare.

So for me - rationally or irrationally - let's stay part of Europe and for goodness sakes stop wingeing and hanging around the edges like a nerd at a party!

Trouble is we can never be more than a nerd as we have limited, and diminishing, self determination in the group of nations. There is nothing wrong with difference, in fact it should be encouraged. At the moment we are disappearing under a mass of legislation generated from Brussels over which you and I have no effective control over. As one of 40 million voters in the UK my democratic voice is pretty limited as one of 450 million Europeans it's even more non-existent.

[CJ]

Switzerland are doing ok.
£16.4bn p.a. would be better spent elsewhere IMO.

And Sweden and Finland.