Another EU bill - 34 billion this time....

[smegmore]

Whatever the bill is it'll be paid, OK there might be a bit of shouty stuff from Cameron but he's got his eye on the EU gravy train for when he gets the boot so he doesn't want to rock the boat.

Nothing to see here, our lords and masters always know what's best for us.

[Jimbeaux]

Scooby84 said:

So. When do they expect payment by?

Can you defer till after Christmas?

[mrpurple]

Jimbeaux said:

Scooby84 said:

So. When do they expect payment by?

Can you defer till after Christmas?

Could always transfer it to a 0% international credit card... might get a lot of nectar points as well

[perdu]

Axionknight said:

McWigglebum4th said:

Ermm

We did

I am only 26, so I haven't officially been asked my opinion on the EU - in fact, I wonder, how many of those who voted in favour of a common market many years ago thought it would lead to this (present day EU)

I wonder also, how many of the "yes" voters back then, would have maintained that vote, had they known that it would lead to our present day EU, which, I add, disgusts me entirely.

Well you can put me in the "Voted to stay in because" category

Also in the "Willing to pay the liars back with attitude" category

I do not expect to get a vote ever, Cameron is a fool and a liar.


Still he did tell us he agreed with Nick…

[AJS-]

Well it's very reassuring that the Conservatives are "spitting with rage." I'm sure they will reform it and everything will be fine.

[Esseesse]

Axionknight said:

I am only 26, so I haven't officially been asked my opinion on the EU - in fact, I wonder, how many of those who voted in favour of a common market many years ago thought it would lead to this (present day EU)

I wonder also, how many of the "yes" voters back then, would have maintained that vote, had they known that it would lead to our present day EU, which, I add, disgusts me entirely.

Those that campaigned to come out (labelled unhelpfully as anti-marketeers) knew what we were getting in to, as did Heath. And the EU bankrolled the Yes campaign.

[Andy Zarse]

Grrr.

Never mind, good old Cameron will be over to Brussels like a shot and straighten out Jonny European and no mistake. You mark my words. Cammers won't take any of their EU budget stuff and nonsense lying down I can tell you and anyway that nice Mr von Rumpy is bound to listen to him. He'll be really flipping annoyed and he will jolly well tell them we are downright not going to pay it by 23rd December. Oh no no no, he will make them wait until at least the following Pancake Day...

[Mr Whippy]

Esseesse said:

Axionknight said:

I am only 26, so I haven't officially been asked my opinion on the EU - in fact, I wonder, how many of those who voted in favour of a common market many years ago thought it would lead to this (present day EU)

I wonder also, how many of the "yes" voters back then, would have maintained that vote, had they known that it would lead to our present day EU, which, I add, disgusts me entirely.

Those that campaigned to come out (labelled unhelpfully as anti-marketeers) knew what we were getting in to, as did Heath. And the EU bankrolled the Yes campaign.

And TTIP seems like the start of another thing that is nice for trade today, but will just mean some weird centralised corporate control centre in 40 years, with all the EU MP's just a talking house on top of the Westminster lot.

Dave

[Jon999]

EU auditors are concerned that a ceiling capping payments at a maximum of £718 billion between 2014 and 2020


That's an unbelievable sum of money. Where does this actually go?

[Blib]

Jon999 said:

EU auditors are concerned that a ceiling capping payments at a maximum of £718 billion between 2014 and 2020


That's an unbelievable sum of money. Where does this actually go?

[Piersman2]

Jon999 said:

EU auditors are concerned that a ceiling capping payments at a maximum of £718 billion between 2014 and 2020


That's an unbelievable sum of money. Where does this actually go?

Unfortunately, no one actually knows for sure. No auditors have been prepared to sign off the books for the last 17 or so years, which is incredible considering how easily the big auditing companies can be influenced with strings attached consultancy contracts.

Things must be staggeringly badly managed, and I suspect highly illegal and fraudulent, for none of the big auditing firms to be prepared to get involved in this gravy train.

[FiF]

Axionknight said:

McWigglebum4th said:

Ermm

We did

I am only 26, so I haven't officially been asked my opinion on the EU - in fact, I wonder, how many of those who voted in favour of a common market many years ago thought it would lead to this (present day EU)

I wonder also, how many of the "yes" voters back then, would have maintained that vote, had they known that it would lead to our present day EU, which, I add, disgusts me entirely.

Edited by Axionknight on Wednesday 26th November 23:52

Edited by Axionknight on Wednesday 26th November 23:53

Well I voted in the 70s referendum still a youngster then and a political innocent and in all truth not particularly interested in politics.

There was no way the public were informed in any even handed way, the Yes campaign completely swamped any other views. Certainly there was no indication that the EU as it came to be known was anything more than a free trading area to make life easier and open up markets and save bureaucracy. Quite ironic considering bureaucracy seems to be the only thing that has really prospered.

However one thing that I discovered in trying to understand was the Common Agricultural Policy. Reading more and more about that then it was clear to me a vote for No was the only sensible one, that judgement still seems sound today.

Of course like the others who voted on the losing side one picks up, accepting the democratic decision and get on with it.

It's overdue to be put to people again. I expect to see the same dirty tricks again by vested interests. Hopefully the populace listen properly this time.

The problem is that the case for and against is not simple. Not black and white, plus the short and long term consequences of either option contain a significant number of unknowns that will not come into play until a decision is announced.

Tin foil hat time, would the EU impose further votes until the right answer was obtained, would the British people accept or the EU try the Italian solution of inserting a PM acceptable to them by whatever means?

[oyster]

smegmore said:

Whatever the bill is it'll be paid, OK there might be a bit of shouty stuff from Cameron but he's got his eye on the EU gravy train for when he gets the boot so he doesn't want to rock the boat.

Nothing to see here, our lords and masters always know what's best for us.

This rubbish gets spouted a lot, but has no logic behind it.

Why would Cameron want to have to visit Brussels every week to earn a couple hundred thousand pounds, when he could make millions by flying round the world to speak to paying guests for 20 minutes?

In fact how many ex-PMs have gone onto the EU 'gravy train'?

[AJS-]

oyster said:

This rubbish gets spouted a lot, but has no logic behind it.

Why would Cameron want to have to visit Brussels every week to earn a couple hundred thousand pounds, when he could make millions by flying round the world to speak to paying guests for 20 minutes?

In fact how many ex-PMs have gone onto the EU 'gravy train'?

Leaders of other countries have.

Cameron is a politician. Why wouldn't he aspire to the highest office he can attain?

We often hear that Britain is too small and irrelevant on it's own to be influential (though we hear less about who "we" wish to influence to do what) and that the world is forming itself into big trading blocks. Why wouldn't Cameron want the top job in the EU?

He'll get plenty of after dinner speaking gigs as well, don't worry.