Re: the EU & the UK
Our membership of the EU gives a/c to the CEBB supports 3.1 million jobs directly and indirectly. Agricultural job stability is provided for 500000 workers in the farming industry by subsidies that the UK government may not replace/continue. Consumer Protection has been increased by the EU, some folks wanting Brexit want to peel back Consumer protection and workers rights. It offers greater protection from terrorists, paedophiles ( this week a huge european paedophile ring was bust by collaboration ) , people traffickers and cyber-crime. According to the CBI & SME's, 67% to 71% of Business have a positive impact from membership of the EU. Access to European energy, transport and digital service markets add £1000 per person to the UK economy. They provide a regulatory framework for the 88% ( ive seen different figures to that , 310bn out of 1200bn or some such) through joint EU trade deals which benefit the UK as a member, its not a negative point that you make. The USA is waiting for the UK to leave to plunder the UK as an export market. The EU promotes peaceful stability on the continent. More than 50% of our exports go to EU countries. Inward investments will be less certain if we leave the EU, some of these have already dried up. Now I agree that Brexit is not just an economic argument but the economic argument for leaving the EU for me does not stack up. There are bad things within the EU that we will lose influence over, what it did to Greece, how it deals with evolving African economies through trade.
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Dudley Moore: Do you feel you've learnt by your mistakes here?
Peter Cook: I think I have, yes, and I think I can probably repeat them almost perfectly.