Funny thing is that as a British citizen living in the EU, I wont be able to vote. I will be forced to apply for a visa/residence permit for France if the UK pulls out, or apply for french a french passport, but I have no right to have a say in the referendum even though I will be one of those most affected by the end result.
Directly affecting Sunderland: Nissan, currently exports cars to the EU from the UK. If UK leaves the EU, they will have to go through additional export processes. In Switzerland, this process costs 6% of the products value. If the same happens to the UK exports (which it will do), what do you think Nissan will do ? They will cut production in Sunderland and open a factory in the EU. Same for any other UK manufacturer exporting to the EU.
Dont think UK will have to honour current deals with the EU ? Do you think the EU have to honour any deals it has with the UK if the UK doesnt honour theirs ? If the EU are feeling vindictive, they could charge additional tarrifs to the UK among other things.
How about the British nationals who have retired abroad ? If they cant get the right to stay in their country of choice if the UK pulls outs, how will the UK support them when they come running back and cant afford to buy or rent a UK property? last estimates # of pensioners living outside of the UK = 900 thousand. with 500k living in the EU.
If the UK stays in the EU, the consequences are clear and easy to see. if the UK leaves, there is no guarantees, no agreement has been put in place, no framework is available. if you vote for leaving the EU, what are you actually voting for ?
When the UK had a vote on whether to join the EU in June 1975, there was already an agreement with the EU drafted, so people knew what the choices and consequences of both options actually were. How can people vote on an issue when the consequences for both options arent clear ?
Remninds me of the French vote against Sarkozy that put Hollonde in power. people voted against Sarko cos they didnt like him, but they didnt realise how **** the alternative was and were too wrapped up in how they didnt like Sarko. Hollande is the least popular president ever - getting as low as 13% of the support last year according to surveys.
This referendum is bollocks, not because I dont think people should have the right to choose or that I am worried what will happen to my situation if the UK does leave, but because 90% people dont actually have ****ing clue as to what they are voting for.