If you are voting OUT on the 23rd ......

[girlinacoma]

Then what are your prime reasons (other than immigration)?

I don't think that a Brexit will (or should) have much impact at all on the immigration figures. Primarily because we will still need the valuable contribution that immigrants will bring to the UK.

I'm still voting out though as I think that the EU is a sinking ship.

I'm interested in other people's reasons though.

[Spinflight]

Ever closer Union. We either get into bed with them properly, or leave.

[claig]

Sovereignty and democracy

[mangocoveredlamb]

I don't think the EU will survive, and is rather we went now on a controlled manner than to wait for it to go boom!

[EnthusiasmDisturbed]

Democracy

Gap between the wealthy and poor has widened we need a change in direction not to stay on the path we are on now

[Sadik]

I'm a waverer, so I don't know if my views count. If I do vote out, it will be because of the undemocratic nature of the EU, the treatment of Greece and Italy, my very negative experiences of the Commission over many years (corrupt, incompetent and captured by big business), and my fear that an 'in' vote will condemn us to many more years of neo-liberal business as usual.

[Sadik]

Ironically, for me the one major positive of the EU is free movement of peoples - which I believe in the long term promotes international understanding and peace.

[girlinacoma]

I agree sadik - I think that Europeans are used to the idea of travelling, living or working in other European countries.

Cheap flights have possibly made this more possible but younger generations, possibly less prejudiced than older generations are much more adventurous and accepting.

Long may that continue!

[KateInAState78]

Because the gradual transfer of sovereign powers is making big sections of the population feel disempowered and disenfranchised, which fosters far-right and far-left politics. We've seen this in the UK with the rise of UKIP and some harder right elements of the Conservative party and with increasing hard left power in the Labour Party. It's replicated all over Europe.

So, with some regret, I'm voting out as I feel that the UK has a good chance of putting the brake on ever closer union before extreme politics gets any more of a foothold in Europe.

[howtorebuild]

Democracy.

[Heratnumber7]

Self government
Depressed wages
Own lawmaking
Control of own destiny
Equality for immigrants from all over the world.

[cheapandcheerful]

Democracy

[Limer]

Democracy, and grabbing the only chance we have to exit from a group whose currency is doomed to failure, whose economic policies are causing huge problems and whose populations are leaning more and more towards the far right.

[PumpkinPies38]

I think the EU is on the brink of collapse and I believe we are the strongest element of it and heretofore should go it alone and trade freely with the EU (with tariffs but without the grossly large figure we pay to be part of it) and the rest of the world.

I believe in sovereignty and don't like the fact Brussels tells us how we have to spend our money.

I worry more and more of our money will be used to bail out countries such as Greece which are not unfortunate but financially irresponsible.

You said apart from immigration- immigration and pressure on our housing and public services are huge concerns of mine also.

I'm hoping hoping hoping we take this opportunity and Brexit.

[lakeswimmer]

More accountable government.

I also think that the EU will be ultimately unsustainable and it would be better to get out now.

Not too bothered by immigration but I do think it's nuts that we can't control the numbers of people entering the country and that, presumably, it limits the number of migrants we take from outside the EU who might have skills we want.

[Millyonthefloss]

Democracy.

And a need to look to the wider world.

Unbearable extravagance and folly of the EU.

[HahahahaFuckYou]

We will no longer be a financial slave to Brussels

more control over our laws

£350 million weekly EU fee could be spent on improving services such as NHS, Schools, housing etc.

gain control over our waters for fish and oil.

[magicboy79]

I was undecided but I feel the in campaign is based on scare tactics and threats, so it makes me want to vote out more!

[Winterbiscuit]

Democracy

[MrsBlackthorn]

Serious question for those who want out on democracy grounds: are you also in favour of electoral reform in the UK?

British politics isn't particularly democractic.

[Sadik]

Yes, absolutely, MrsBlackthorn. I think even the level of PR we have in Wales makes a big difference to the way politics works (I'm not saying it's perfect in any ways, but I think it's better).

I'd also vote for Welsh independence in a heartbeat.

[Limer]

Yes MrsB - I want the House of Lords abolished, and I'd favour some form of proportional representation instead of FPTP.

[MrsBlackthorn]

The democracy argument baffles me - as the EU parliament is entirely elected via PR, it's more democractic than the UK. And of course we have an entirely unelected second chamber.

[StepintotheLightleave]

I am very confident of making my voice heard in the UK, I have had to lobby my MP and that MP even spoke some of my words on TV once my issue was part of wider issue. She took on board what I and I suppose many other constituents said. That is democracy no?

How do I lobby the EU? Do you think they would listen to little old me? Where would I go, can I do it on my lunch break?

The ability to address our own issues and concerns ourselves without going through this insane filter of 28 other nations.
And I believe we will have a renewed energy and will prosper greatly.

Democracy

Controlled immigration, of course a level of it is useful but only who we decide should come here for their skills.

The drain on poor countries like Poland who are loosing vast amounts of their population and must be experience all the negatives we are told are positives.

PEACE: THe FAR right is on the rise because no one is listening to peoples concerns, I believe Brexit would certainly calm peoples fears here and ease tensions.

The ability to move with agility in any crisis or good fortune we face, rather than being dragged down in the so called - red tape.

The idea that we do not have a democratic process here so lets add more un democratic process is a very narrow obscure train of thought.

[StepintotheLightleave]

girl I know plenty of older people who are very well traveled open and accepting and many young who are narrow minded and bigoted, it has nothing to do with age.

[Sadik]

"The democracy argument baffles me - as the EU parliament is entirely elected via PR, it's more democractic than the UK"

The problem is that the parliament doesn't draft the laws, only vote on them. So for example a new set of laws were proposed regulating my area of work. These would have involved a massive expansion of regulatory coverage. They were drafted by an employee of a large corporation who was seconded to work for the Commission, but still paid by their original employer.

Had there not been a massive trans European campaign of lobbying by NGOs, small businesses and others, it is pretty much 100% certain that they would have passed through the Parliament without further comment. Yes, the lobbying worked in that case, but only because it's quite an easily explained area and one that engages a lot of interest at grassroots area.

Also, the proposed law was drafted so as to give the Commission scope for really a LOT of regulatory creep in the future without any need to go back to the Parliament.

To be blunt, the Parliament is a rubber stamp organisation for the Commission, which just occasionally decides to upset the applecart. The real power is in the Commission, and the situation with big companies 'saving the commission money' by lending them employees is in no way unusual.