EU Vote

I don't like UKIP!
I'm not anti the EU. But I do think it needs reform and we need autonomy.
The immigration levels and benefits really need reform
I've seen people receiving benefits in Germany and here although returning to Somalia for several months each year for 'treatment'

Fact is that the EU, like the British legal system, is full of holes, but there is nothing better and hasn't been for nearly seventy years of peace we have all enjoyed in most of Europe. Recent events have, not surprisingly, produced a Europe-wide reaction to years of anger and bitterness with the way Europe is run and the world-wide financial mess made by the bankers. Hopefully those in charge will now address the problems properly and start to sort them out. If they don't the whole concept will founder and that would be a tragedy.

Immigration has been seized upon as a major source of criticism, but does anybody really think that the waves of immigrants would stop if the EU was not there. I doubt it, even the Channel does not stop them getting to the UK. A bigger problem is trade - if this new trade deal with the US goes ahead both the EU and national identities will be irrelevant. We will all be crushed by the economic power of the US. Are they, perhaps, secretly hoping that the European project will founder?

In the meantime will all those new protesting MEP's be drawing big fat salaries for doing nothing, much as the Farage clan have done? How anybody can support them I don't know. You wouldn't pay a thief and troublemaker to stay in your home, would you? I certainly wouldn't!

I believe the greater plan (by some) is to have a United Europe, this would suit all the global multinational companies, What follows that is most scarey. But not classing myself as an intellectual make me wary of posting

What's all this rubbish about being 'intellectual' or not? Someone mentions 'the intellecual left' once, and some people take the mick and pretend they don't know what it means.

I would have thought we could discuss things in a grown-up, intelligent manner without resorting to sarcasm and condescending comments.

I hope all the MEPs will be taking their places and working to reform systems and hold to account those who control the EU budget. However, I am rather doubtful that this is going to happen. We all should know now who our new MEPs are and perhaps we should make sure they are available to answer our questions and report back to us, and not just disappear into the gravy train and bars of Brussels and Strasbourg.

I think a lot of people have been largely unaware of the strategies and workings of the EU and of its general aims unless something controversial appears in the press. Perhaps it is time we started to take more notice and demand that our MEPs answer to us in regular meetings or surgeries.

My comment was neither sarcastic or condescending, I just have never considered myself as being an intellectual.

Has anyone actually met an MEP? Farage doesn't count; he'll shake anyone's hand for a pint.

No, I haven't.

Never met one, not even when they were candidates and campaigning.

We have met our MP and AM on several occasions, but who do you count as your MEP when the area is so large? How do they divvy it up - or not?

'But not classing myself as an intellectual make me wary of posting.'

Why, newist? The posts I was referring to were not yours, but obviously they have made you feel inhibited about expressing your views...

Not at all

a strong voice in defence of the environment and and advocate of many environmental initiatives. I fear that those who have taken his place will be less enthusiastic, if, indeed, they ever bother to take their seats! Will the environment be the victim of the rise of the right?

Just a guess but I suspect the people who have voted against the norm are more concerned about being able to feed their families and pay their bills - the environment will take a backseat every time if people are going hungry and/or cold.

When perusing the ballot paper I was surprised to see Claude Moraes ..... there's a blast from the past I thought as I remembered the name from the 80/90s when he was a legal activist.

I'm even more surprised today to learn that he's been a London MEP since 1999!

There are eight MEPs for London, approx one per million constituents - no wonder most citizens feel it's nothing to do with them.

newist

I believe the greater plan (by some) is to have a United Europe, this would suit all the global multinational companies, What follows that is most scarey. But not classing myself as an intellectual make me wary of posting

The fact that you can see something that many others cannot, kind of makes you an intellectual

Quite, Riverwalk. I discovered tonight that my representatives in the European Parliament will be two Labour Party members and one UKIP member.
I will be writing to the Labour members to ask them what their policies are, since they didn't even bother to put a leaflet through my door. That's arrogance for you.
Just for the record, I despise UKIP and am saddened that no fewer than 177,00 people in the North-east voted for them.

Well, the responses on this thread certainly made me smile.

There are complaints because people don't vote and complaints when they do

The chap from YouGove, on BBC News, classified UKIP as being 'left of centre right and non-toxic'; though I'm sure many on here will disagree with that.

The Isle of Man is not part of Europe but if it was, I would definitely be voting 'out' - in what way has it benefitted the UK? And, please, no mention of peace, many countries around the world have managed peace without being part of Europe. In fact, thinking about the riots in several countries brought about by EU failures ...

Hmm, I meant YouGov

Galen, two wrongs never ever make a right. But you cannot believe the number of UK people in Switzerland who work just long enough to pick up the dole here - in Swiss wages- and also go back to uk for NHS medical treatment (to which they are of course not legally entitled to as resident abroad) despite having large wage abroad!!!

That's the trouble with the list system, isn't it? We have to vote for a party and seats are proportionately distributed. But we have no idea - unless we are party activists and maybe not even then - whom we are voting for and what sort of representation we are likely to have. As I said before, I have known an MEP, and a very good one, but was not always convinced of the calibre of some of the other candidates in the list.

- yes, I noticed that, HollyDaze! Don't give him any ideas...

Oh, go on Ana - let's give him a leg up on this thread and try to even up the odds

There are 8 MEPs for the North West, Riverwalk, with a similar population, but I think it should be easier for them to get around to see their constituents in London.
As Jane said, we have 3 in the North East, to cover from Berwick down to Teesside. Not surprising we do not hear from them.

I'm still not finding anybody giving me a good reason as to the benefits of being in the EU without reform.

It's said that David Cameron will not achieve any renogotiations so I get confused what people really think.

The EU is needs reform, agreed????

The EU does not reform.!!!!

So What do you think you will vote??? Under such circumstances. More of the same old, same old or is that the time to say well it's time to cut our ties

I will put my head above the parapet and say if David Cameron does not get any sensible renogotiations that will be the time I choose to leave the Federal State Of Europe on the horizon.

The irony of UKIP winning so many seats from the Conservatives is he has neutured David Cameron's chance of getting any change. . Hardly a good move from the party of Out at all costs is it.

It's never time to cut ties with Europe.
What reforms do you envisage?
We are part of Europe, have been since the middle ages.
The reform I see is of the CAP, where our farmers and landowners benefit. I cannot see Cameron voting for that.