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Green Party backs in/out Euro vote

GREEN Party’s Bolton branch leaders have welcomed plans for an in/out referendum on Europe — but they want it sooner.

Alan Johnson, The Green Party’s Bolton South East candidate at the last parliamentary election, said David Cameron’s announcement that a referendum will be held by 2017 to determine whether the UK will remain within the European Union would engage British people in an important debate.

But he predicted the UK would stay in the union over the long-term.

Mr Johnson, whose party has two members of the European Parliament (MEPS), said: “The Green Party’s view is yes to a referendum within the next five years, yes to reform and yes to membership.

“We believe this country is too tied in with Europe now so to come out would not make economic sense.

“We’re very much in favour of this referendum and it should be done now, not in five years.

“The power that the financial institutions have over Europe and the powers that European bodies have over the UK needs to be reformed so they act in the best of interest of residents.”


Comments (4)

25/01/13

Beyond News Forum says...

Agreed, bring it on. We do not need 4-years of dross and spin on the issue. Let's get it over with. We have had many years of misery to make our minds up on this matter.

25/01/13

Beyond News Forum says...

Not agreed about membership however.

25/01/13

Reality50 says...

Sooner we are out of the EU the better. Britain has a brighter future going it alone and forging independent trade agreements with emerging markets like Brazil and India and also Britain can restrengthen our ties with Commonwealth allies. Our fishing industry can be revived and we will be able to control our own borders and stop EU immigration. The EU is a disaster as has been the Euro currency. The Green Party are pro Euro so have no credibility on EU and Euro issues. Bring on the vote!

27/01/13

BWFC71 says...

Reality50 wrote:
Sooner we are out of the EU the better. Britain has a brighter future going it alone and forging independent trade agreements with emerging markets like Brazil and India and also Britain can restrengthen our ties with Commonwealth allies. Our fishing industry can be revived and we will be able to control our own borders and stop EU immigration. The EU is a disaster as has been the Euro currency. The Green Party are pro Euro so have no credibility on EU and Euro issues. Bring on the vote!
What you don't seem to realise is that teh emerging markets do not trade with sole countries - they trade in market areas. We are part of the EMEA region, but our strength lies with being part of the EU as it helps to drive down costs that would burnden us with direct country to country trading.

Since Cameron announced his "plan" the markets have not been favourablke towards the UK. We have gone weaker against both the US Dollar and the Euro.

Our Commonwealth allies trade with their nearest neighbours more than they would ever do with their "parent" country - why? Shipping costs. Australia has strong trading links with Japan, China and most of teh South east Asia region - so why would they want to increase their trade with us when we would be far more expensive than teh market they already trade with. The same also applies to South Africa, India, Pakistan and Canada. All other nations within the Commonwealth do not produce what we require and in fact take money from us just to survive!!!!

The only major country we would be able to deal with would be teh US and they ahve already stipulated that they would rather trade with the EU, whether we are in it or not, rather than individual countries - as it saves money!!!

Increase fishing, increase the risk of over-fishing and depleting teh amount of fish within our waters - its happened before and hence the fishing quota was introduced. Even Norway, which is a great fishing nation, are realising that they ahve over-fished and are beginning to implement quota's!!!

We need the EU, just as much as the EU needs us. Our biggest trading partner is the rest of the EU. If let that slip then we will faulter.

If we have to trade with teh US they will add stipulations which will make the common workers slaves to conglomerates athe fact cats will get richer and teh poor will get poorer.

US stayle NHS starst in 9 weeks, Cameron has already stated he wants teh same regulations as US when it comes to workers rights - which will mean teh removal of the minimum wage - this will lead to an increase fo families below the poverty line as many fat cat bosses would want to pay as litle as possible to its workers. Also includes reduction in leave entitlement - the uS only get 2 weeks - do you want only 2 weeks??? The uS do not have sick leave entitlement, again if you are sick (i.e not cold but hospital treatment) would you want unpaid leave?

As I said earlier, just the announcement is having a detrimental effect in teh markets (FX), now just imagine if we do leave the EU - uncertainty in the markets breed lack of collaboration leads to less jobs and less investment.

The world has moved on since the 1960's and going it alone will never be properous in todays world.

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