Are British people becoming stupider?

[Dont be a lemon]

Well over half of British voters now want to leave the European Union, according to an opinion poll that shows anti-EU sentiment is sweeping through all three main political parties.

The Opinium/Observer survey finds that 56% of people would probably or definitely vote for the UK to go it alone if they were offered the choice in a referendum. About 68% of Conservative voters want to leave the EU, against 24% who want to remain; 44% of Labour voters would probably choose to get out, against 39% who would back staying in, while some 39% of Liberal Democrats would probably or definitely vote to get out, compared with 47% who would prefer to remain in the EU.

The findings will make sobering reading for all three major parties, which are at risk of losing support to the buoyant anti-EU party Ukip – now two points ahead of the Lib Dems on 10%.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/nov/17/eu-referendum-poll

Is News Corporation to blame?

On a side note:

Labour pro-Europeans accused Cameron of lurching further to the right as it was confirmed Boris Johnson's former election guru, the Australian Lynton Crosby, has become the prime minister's general election strategist.

That arsehole Good luck Britain...

 

[Caesar]

Not saying I am in favour of it, but why do you think this is such a stupid idea exactly?

 

[Dont be a lemon]

Britain would be permanently disadvantaged economically and politically.

 

[The_Reaper]

Britain would be permanently disadvantaged economically and politically.

Switzerland isn't.

 

[Caesar]

Britain would be permanently disadvantaged economically and politically.

How so? Doesn't seem to do Switzerland and Norway much harm.

Leaving the EU doesn't mean they have to leave the common market.

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

How much of that sentiment is due to the euro-zone troubles of Portugal, Ireland, Greece & Spain? I know the Brits kept their own currency and so avoid the troubles of a euro free-fall, though EU membership also means that economic migrants from elsewhere in the EU can freely settle in the U.K which might piss some of the locals off - most notably the Conservatives, going by the figures in that poll.

If Europe sorts its financial woes out the polls might shift back to a more pro-EU stance.

 

[Jentleman Geff]

The UK is going down regardless of whether they are in the EU or not.

 

[Cap]

In what context?

compared to Australians? I don't think so.

We voted in Gillard...

 

[Rellik666]

Britain would be permanently disadvantaged economically and politically.

Have you actually lived there? Do you know what ridiculous crap the EU places on it member states? Do you realise how much being a member of the EU costs?

Maybe if you didn't live in the land of milk and honey you would see that being a member of the EU isn't all it is cracked up to be!

 

[Pessimistic]

Surely the fans arent saying tory voters are stupider than the others ?

 

[Gough]

The problem with polls like this is that a significant number of Brits want out of the EU purely based on a dislike and mistrust of Johnny Foreigner, as well as other critical issues such as the metric system.

 

[Pessimistic]

Not conceding the power to have an influence over your local economy seems like a good reason

 

[Slax]

So ebing a member of the EU is a guarantee of economic prosperity? With what's happened over th last couple of years I would've thought the exact opposite would be true.

Leave the EU and you don't have to bail out Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Ireland.

Leave and you miss out on??????

 

[Caesar]

The problem with polls like this is that a significant number of Brits want out of the EU purely based on a dislike and mistrust of Johnny Foreigner, as well as other critical issues such as the metric system.

I'd still like to know why the OP thinks it's such a mind-numbingly stupid idea though. There are a lot of fairly sound arguments for wealthier countries to be part of the EEA without being part of the EU.

 

[blackcat]

as medusala will confirm, Bojo is a genius. But of the dichotomy type, he can be the most stupid buffoon, but there is a genius indisputable to him. The guy could turn me tory.

turn me tory, spectator subscription, wiffwaff and women player

respect bojo

 

[Pessimistic]

[/quote]


We finally have proof of the OP, but not for the reasons he gave

 

[MaddAdam]

I expect the percentage of Europeans who would vote to kick them out would be far higher.

 

[medusala]

How so? Doesn't seem to do Switzerland and Norway much harm.

Leaving the EU doesn't mean they have to leave the common market.

Yes, it would be nice if Admiral could actually attempt to mount a coherent argument.

The UK has a trade surplus with the rest of the world but a deficit with the EU. It is absurd to argue(hello Nick Clegg) that the EU is somehow going to put tariffs on the UK or limit trade. There is no reason the UK cant still have free trade as per the Swiss. Further the UK could then withdraw from economically damaging legislation like the social chapter, immigration rules, human rights legilslation etc and also get back its budget contribution as below.


http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/d...-budget-has-risen-by-74-per-cent-in-one-year/

There is a jaw-dropping statistic in the new Balance of Payments figures. As usual, Britain ran a massive trade deficit with the rest of the EU, only partially offset by its surplus with the rest of the world. Our current account deficit with the EU in 2010 was £46.6 billion; our surplus with the rest of the world was £10.3 billion. These figures shouldn't surprise anyone: since 1973, the United Kingdom has tended to be in surplus with every continent except Europe.
What is surprising is the leap in our net contribution to the Brussels budget, from £5.3 billion in 2009 to £9.2 billion in 2010. Our gross contribution, which is in many ways the more relevant figure, is £19.7 billion.
The media in general, and the BBC in particular, became very excited

II expect the percentage of Europeans who would vote to kick them out would be far higher.

It would cost them money.

 

[medusala]

The problem with polls like this is that a significant number of Brits want out of the EU purely based on a dislike and mistrust of Johnny Foreigner, as well as other critical issues such as the metric system.

The old Guardian argument, ie anyone who doesnt love the EU is racist.

blackcat

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/pol...ngle-penny-more-for-the-EUs-begging-bowl.html

Herman Van Rompuy is asking for an increase in spending by Brussels of between 5 and 6.8 per cent, at a time when the whole of the Community has been enduring cuts in public expenditure.

The people in Brussels must have been out of their tiny minds. It is like giving heroin to an addict. It is like handing an ice cream to the fattest boy in the class, while the rest of the kids are on starvation diets — and then asking them to pay for his treat

This is a budget so riddled with fraud and malpractice that in 18 years it has never been given a clean bill of health by the European Court of Auditors.

It is time for David Cameron to put on that pineapple-coloured wig and powder blue suit, whirl his handbag round his head and bring it crashing to the table with the words no, non, nein, neen, nee, ne, ei and ochi, until they get the message.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

How so? Doesn't seem to do Switzerland and Norway much harm.

Leaving the EU doesn't mean they have to leave the common market.

The EU agreements with select non-EU countries aren't merely extensions of the 'single market'. There are differences and limitations. Agriculture comes to mind.

If the UK did vote to leave do folk think the EU and its 26 remaining member countries are going to be happy about receiving a "* you" vote and will give the UK a trade agreement anywhere near as good as actually staying in the EU? I doubt it.

Further the UK could then withdraw from economically damaging legislation like the social chapter, immigration rules, human rights legilslation etc

You're a funny man.

Surprised you didn't work in "The City of London is the centre of the universe".

 

[Caesar]

Norway is part of the European Economic Area without being part of the EU. It does not have a separate free trade agreement.

Even if they did leave altogether and have situation like Switzerland, why would the EU not give them a similar FTA? I doubt they would do it purely out of spite when the trade balance would make it so beneficial.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

On a connected note why do so many British have a bug up their ass about being 'not' 'European'?

Is this ass bug as common among Irish, Cypriots, Maltese and Icelandic?

 

[medusala]

Surprised you didn't work in "The City of London is the centre of the universe".

Didnt?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EFTA

The European Free Trade Association (or EFTA) is a free trade organisation between four European countries that operates parallel to, and is linked to, the European Union (EU).

Today's EFTA members are Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland—

 

[mantis]

Am I the only one who realises the OP is stupid? There is no such word as stupider, the OP should have said, "Are British people becoming more stupid".

That is all.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/stupid

stupider