Gransnet forums

News & politics

Out of the EU? (just for fun)

(160 Posts)
trisher Sun 10-May-15 21:48:24

If we pull out of Europe after the referendum what will bother you most?
I don't understand all the regulations and rules, but I think it is fun to speculate on what you will miss the most, or what worries you most. I have 3. In no particular order;
Will my local Italian deli close because the owner has to leave?
How much booze will I be able to bring home when I go on holiday?
Will my DSs Polish girlfriend be sent home?

rosequartz Mon 11-May-15 15:25:30

Do you want to go anywhere in the meantime trisher?
They may let you out of the country but you may not be let back in - usually it has to have 6 months left on a passport!

You could buy a nice dark blue cover for it:
www.amazon.co.uk/Leather-United-Kingdom-Passport-Cover/dp/B00EQ6Q9Z4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1431354177&sr=8-2&keywords=blue+passport+covers
I in no way endorse this product and am not connected with the manufacturers in any way, other products of a similar nature may be available.

The implications are so far-reaching we are going to need to absorb an awful lot of information to make a decision - how many people will do that?

janeainsworth Mon 11-May-15 16:23:12

This is quite long but seems quite authoritative and might be of interest to jen and others who have family members who are EU nationals.
eulawanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/what-would-happen-to-eu-nationals.html?m=1

durhamjen Mon 11-May-15 16:36:05

Thanks, jane. I'll send the link to my son and his partner. I think it might need to be read carefully before letting my 13 year-old grandson loose on it.

Not sure if he'll have a vote at the next election. He'll do as suggested to him anyway, as he has ASD, but he cannot have British citizenship as he has to take his mother's nationality. Strange, isn't it, that rich people can have nondom status because of their father's nationality, but my grandson cannot have his father's nationality even though his dad is British.

I think this project will be a long one.

His mother did not get a vote in the general election, and will not be able to vote on the EU question, even though she has paid taxes and NI for over 20 years in this country. Her brother changes jobs quite frequently, moving back and forwards with his family between Spain, Ireland and Denmark. He would not come to the UK because of the attitude to foreigners here.

durhamjen Mon 11-May-15 16:41:21

Just as important as the question of staying in the EU, is the question of TTIP.
If we were out of the EU, Cameron would have signed up to it by now.

act.sumofus.org/go/8800?t=1&akid=10600.8185493.H-T-67

durhamjen Mon 11-May-15 17:17:25

My grandson said, "Don't worry, Mummy, I'll come with you so you won't be on your own."

FarNorth Mon 11-May-15 17:32:40

Poor lad.

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 11-May-15 17:40:27

His parents could get married.

I don't for one moment believe that all Europeans who have made a settled life for themselves in the UK would be sent back. (Not that I wish us to leave the EU)

I think you should be very careful what you talk about in front of an eleven year old.

FarNorth Mon 11-May-15 17:44:05

He's 13 and probably heard something on the news.

Ana Mon 11-May-15 17:45:48

Not very likely.

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 11-May-15 17:46:14

The "just had lunch with my grandson and his mum" suggests a conversation.

janeainsworth Mon 11-May-15 17:49:40

I wouldn't be so sure, Jingl. This is aquote from the link I posted:
"EU citizens (and their family members) already in the UK: In practice, it is likely that the position of these individuals would be agreed during the negotiations for exit. If not, those who already possess the right to permanent residence might retain that status or be switched to indefinite leave to remain. Indefinite leave offers fewer protections against deportation than permanent residence and this would raise some interesting questions under both human rights (assuming the UK remained party to the Convention) and domestic law in the event of an attempt to deport. Those who had not yet met the conditions for permanent residence could, in theory, be required to qualify under domestic law or face removal."

And this is the conclusion:
"Those advocating the exit of the UK from the EU as a solution to unwanted intra-EU immigration do not seem to have grasped the unpalatable nature of the alternatives even in the terms of their own anti-immigration agenda. Maintaining the benefits of free access to Europe for UK citizens will almost certainly involve accepting inward movement from the entire EU on terms which are similar to those existing today but accompanied by the loss of influence that an exit implies. Alternatively, the UK can choose an isolationist position and apply domestic immigration controls to EU citizens. The price will be the loss of innumerable business, educational and cultural opportunities as movement from Europe becomes more difficult, and likely increased difficulties for UK citizens who may no longer take for granted their own privileged access to Europe for work, education, holidays or retirement."

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 11-May-15 17:56:04

Again, I do not believe anyone with a settled family life here, and in decent employment etc. would be sent back.

I don't know how authoritative your link is ja.

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 11-May-15 17:56:39

But please don't bother to explain. smile

FarNorth Mon 11-May-15 17:58:46

This is "just for fun" after all so don't worry your pretty little head about it, jingls.

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 11-May-15 18:00:19

I thought it had stopped being a silly thread.

Take that as you will.

Ana Mon 11-May-15 18:04:46

I'm not sure anyone else thinks this thread is 'just for fun', FarNorth.

Or were you being sarcastic?

GrannyTwice Mon 11-May-15 18:06:30

Gosh - if only they weren't abolishing the HRA , people might have been able to stay under the 'right to a family life' - well there you go

Ana Mon 11-May-15 18:07:54

And...she's back in the room!

GrannyTwice Mon 11-May-15 18:12:41

I wonder what the rules will be about the numbers voting in the referendum - ie will there have to be a minimum % of the registered electors voting and a minimum % of that voting to stay in?

durhamjen Mon 11-May-15 18:12:47

He does hear things on the news and asks questions.Why do you think it's not very likely, Ana? That's quite insulting to him. He is autistic, and takes things literally.
Another question was, "Why don't they want us to stay here, Mummy?"
What would you say to that, jingl?

Even if someone who has been here for over twenty years can stay, it's whether they would want to, having listened to people slating immigrants all the time. She gets fed up of saying to people, "That's me you're talking about," to which the response is often, "Oh, we don't mean you. It's the others."

GrannyTwice Mon 11-May-15 18:14:02

Hi Ana - I've been at work all day - just back in my hotel room. So you missed me?

durhamjen Mon 11-May-15 18:15:48

Right to a family life? What's that, GrannyTwice? Do you mean for rich people with big mansions and servants?

Ana Mon 11-May-15 18:16:58

Of course I missed you GrannyT! That is, I noticed you weren't here! grin

FarNorth Mon 11-May-15 18:18:09

'Just for fun' - It's in the title, Ana. Take that as you will.

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 11-May-15 18:24:25

"Oh, we don't mean you" sounds like a perfectly good response. She is obviously not simply an economic migrant.