pauluk

Whilst I accept that the European Union is not working and has become so enlarged it is a sick joke with a multitude of cultures pulling in different directions. It is also a fact that we as a nation need to be able to trade with as little hinderance as possible with other nations in order to survive.

It would be a wise idea to start talks with other equivelent European parties who are working within a similar framework to UKIP'S, with a long term view to disscuss trade harmanisation to the benefit of all concerned.

As we all know, other countries i.e. Germany, Holland and France have growing numbers of thier population who are increasingly dissatisfied with what is happening in the EU and know there is worse to come. Working more closely together within a common frame-work could benefit the populous both sides of the channel.

Alex McKee

There is no need to. When we leave the EU, we can simply remain a member of EFTA.

Simple, no?

Britannist

Quote from last but one posting above: discuss trade harmanisation to the benefit of all concerned.

My reply: No way. We quit the EU - period. The continental economies are in a mess. If they want to sort the problem out they don't need to "harmonise". They need to get rid of that pathetic failure that is causing economic decline - the euro. The UK wants no euro and no "harmonisation" at all.

kernow

pauluk

Percentage

Are you Mikeuk's younger brother?

Britannist

Why does PaulUK have to write to me in this deep bold black? It's about as rude as people who write in red ink. :shock:

Colin McNamee

pauluk

This is incorrect. Check facts through The Pink Book either Sept or Oct 2005.

UK purchases more from EU than they buy from us.

Approximately 60% more jobs in EU dependent on sales to UK than the other way round.

Government UK export stats include UK shipping to (through) the Port of Rotterdam - on its way to the rest of the world. Estimate circa 6/8% tucked away in there. When the balances are made UK STILL exports more to the Rest of the World thanto the EU. Bear in mind that this is despite huge reductions in our manufacturing industries, overseen by successive Conservative and Labour administrations.

Also Gordon Brown's (now rarely mentioned) selling off circa one third UK Gold Reserves mostly at bottom dollar prices and then using some 60% of the income generated to buy Euro's. This activity seriously undermined the wealth of the UK and could be taken as a way to achieve convergence with EU economies. DESPITE this UK economy & exports continued to out perform the EU generally.

The Lib Dems in particular are oft quoted mis-using UK export stats to illustrate UK dependence on EU trade. This should come as no surprise !

Check financial reports and analysis in Global Britain.

UKIP policy in any event is not about a trade war. Political Treaties to be replaced by UK/EU Trading Agreements just like the other 91, or is it 92, countries that trade simiarly with the EU.

David Agnew

[quote="pauluk"]

You seem to be suggesting that the EU is offering some kind of support to the UK. In fact it is just another burden.

The vast majority of the world's countries are "surviving on their own".

Correct. British politicians are pants.
The solution is to get rid of them and vote in UKIP!

In what sense would we be "kicking them INTO phpbb_touch". If you mean the EU would lose its second largest source of income, you are correct. But I don't see why the UK taxpayer had to subsidise the likes of the Republic of Ireland anyway. They don't seem particularly grateful to me. Did they seem grateful to you? I suppose that there may have been a marginal benefit in that by enriching the Irish they have more money to spend on UK goods, but in my opinion it would have been better to spend the money in the UK.