How will you vote in the EU referendum?

I bet in the early hours of this morning Cameron was wishing that he'd never raised expectations that he could renegotiate the UK's membership in record time And then convince the UK public to vote in favour of staying in on the basis of his deal. I can understand why other EU leaders are not that willing to help him out. Particularly the Greeks who would have preferred to spend the summit discussing the refugee crisis.

theconversation.com/britains-demands-of-the-eu-a-view-from-france-54964

How the French view Cameron's machinations.

Whatever is agreed by the heads of state will not be legally binding anyway, whatever Cameron wants.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-camerons-eu-deal-cant-be-legally-binding-eu-parliament-president-martin-schulz-says-a6876861.html

MEPs will have to agree, too.

POGS, I am aware what ever closer union means.

"In brief: The proposed EU deal would exempt the UK from aspiring to “an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe”. This phrase has a symbolic political impact, but has little or no legal effect. Saying that it no longer applies to the UK doesn’t change anything about how the EU works, or the powers it has." From www.fullfact.org

It's only Cameron who tries to say it means political union; it doesn't.

JessM, he said he would walk away if he doesn't get what he wants.
I expect that today. Although it would be nice if he didn't and we could have the referendum in June, so we can get on with life, and he can get on with his proper job instead of grandstanding over Europe all the time.

I was thinking about the Popes message about Trump, and I realised that's what those who want out of Europe are doing, building a symbolic wall, not an actual one.

durhamjen. Let's not forget the pope lives in a walled city.

Trump, UKIP and the SNP may not on the face of it have the same policies, but they are all about separating people, fostering a sense of grievance and blaming others for everything that goes wrong. It is nationalism at its worst and should be resisted.

From what I have heard so far I am leaning towards COMING OUT.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35606924

My mind is now made up!! I'm leaving. ???

hildajenniJ. Was it one particular thing, or several?

Durhamjen. Your post to me 10.29 .

You asked Petra ' which countries ' in response to her post of yesterday 22.48.

I responded by saying that the European Parliament has MEP's from many countries who belong to various groupings but especially the EPP which strives for Ever Closer Union as a mantra for their grouping. Not sure why you posted to me 10.29 as I was answering your question.

As for the Pope if he opened the Vatican City and used his properties and wealth to give bed and board those in need I might think more of his comment. The Vatican is another hypocritical institution that works on the premise ' Do as I say not do as I do '. A hell of a lot of that around.

Someone on TV this morning said David Cameron will come back saying he has a deal and has pulled out of a hat what he says is a rabbit but will turn out to be a guinea pig.

Well ' a deal has been struck '

Now we can see what is on offer and hopefully be able to decide for ourselves if we decide to vote In or Out.

I'm just glad at last I might be able to decypher more intelligent debate rather than partisan fodder whether it be of the left/right of politics. Probably not but more to chew over and we are where we are now the 'deal has been done '.

It will be interesting to see if any of those who say they want out now change their minds.

Or any of those he say they want to stay in change their minds.

Why would they?
There's no problem about staying in.

Whichever way it goes I feel that Cameron has worked hard and must be exhausted with all these late night/early morning meetings.

I think one of the qualities needed by a Prime Minister is being able to get by on little sleep. It wouldn't have suited me

I doubt this deal will please anyone. It won't be enough to please eurosceptics (or UKIP) - they will still want to leave. And those who want to stay in could really do without having to make their case based on a few concessions.

Though I'll have to go away and actually read what changes have been negotiated, from what I heard of Cameron's speech on the late news it certainly sounded as if the UK has gained concessions on an unprecedented scale.

This article in the Telegraph spells it out quite clearly without prejudice, I think.

I shall still vote to stay in - I have always been of that opinion - we are a small country not a great power and there is strength in numbers. Moscow is a very short flight away!
Little money will be saved if we still wish to trade with the EU to the same degree as now - Denmark pays and so would UK - and the rules regarding food etc will still need to be adhered to.
If UK votes to leave the EU I think that the general public will not realise for a long time how much they have lost and by then it will be too late - we would never be welcomed back again. Many people who vote will be carried along by the group which shout the loudest and not bother to think through some of the points and the effects it will have - not easy for students to study in the EU or for businesses and people to work there - even holidays are likely to be affected and visas needed if Schengen continues as why should Britain get special treatment any longer. The fate of the Airbus workers will be in the balance after they complete the current orders - that will give time for another facility to be built elsewhere in EU - it is a European project not a UK and EU one. It would not be overnight changes would happen but happen they would and there would be less 'good' jobs in UK not more - most of the low grade work the Eastern Europe workers do are not popular with UK workers and neither is the low pay or living conditions. Many of the job losses and problems of the UK have been caused by UK governments not Europe or migrants - such as allowing the apprentice schemes to fall by the wayside - industries have gone and the premises razed to the ground.
When Britain joined the EU years ago we stopped trading with many of our old trading partners - they have now found other markets so why should they ever trust enough to trade with Britain again in a big way and give beneficial deals.
Initially, along with NATO, the economic union was set up to develop trade to make it much less likely that there would be another war in Europe after many wars over hundreds of years. How has that desire changed?
It will now be interesting which Govt ministers vote out - I see Gove is thought to have declared for the leave camp.

The fact that Gove wants us to leave makes me even more keen to stay in

Welshwife. Have you forgotten that we built Concord with the French when we weren't members of the EU.

I feel very sorry for people that feel so insignificant and insecure that they need other people to protect them.