The UK had a great deal in the EU

[Justchanged]

So much of the complaining in the referendum, was that the EU didn't give us a better deal. It's too late now, but I struggle to understand what was so bad about the UK's deal.

The UK:

• had opted out of the single currency, but had full access to Euro financial markets and so was a major clearing centre for the Eurozone (which will almost certainly disappear now even in a Norway style settlement);
  
• had opted out of Schengen so could control non-EU migration
  
• attracted many high-skilled, high tax paying migrants
  
• had the EU commissioner in charge of financial services
  
• had rebate on its contributions
  
• was the single largest recipient of inward investment as international companies sought to take advantage of the English language, access to the single market and skilled workers
  
• was exempt from bailouts of Eurozone countries
  
• as a member of the EU (not the EEA) was able to veto key decisions and horse-trade to get support
  
• was able to act as a bridge between EU and U.S.
  
• had agreed a deal where EU migrants could be restricted from benefits for 4 years
  
• EU migrants contributed much more in tax revenues that they took
  
• Uk citizens could live, work, study and retire in 27 other countries and able to continue to receive their UK pension, and access free healthcare on the same terms as a local
  

This was all for a relatively small share of GDP. No other EU member had close to such special terms. It will look like an absolute bargain soon as Boris goes begging, and jobs and tax revenues are decimated.

The downside seemingly was freedom of movement.

[Thegirlinthefireplace]

We had a good deal. Nothing now will compare. Don't know what people were thinking...

[Justchanged]

apologies - I meant to add, yes there's freedom of movement but for all the UK complained about EU migration, EU migration were large net contributors, but non-EU migration which was under the UK's control was higher in terms of numbers, less skilled and a net drain on the public purse. So not clearly something that would improve outside the EU.

[annandale]

I agree totally. Massive failure of every pro-EU person to talk about this more, both in the campaign and beforehand more generally, and i include myself in this. I felt that as a middle-aged public sector employee based in the south I would be considered to be biased and part of the problem, that I didn't understand etc so I didn't speak up. Ashamed now.

[ssd]

no doubt a leave voter will come on soon and tell you that list doesn't really mean anything.....as they showed the EU two fingers and its all going to be fine......

[ssd]

.... cos we've got our Engurland back now .......

[darceybussell]

I agree. I hope I'm proved wrong but it's a fairly safe bet that whatever deal we get will likely be worse than what we had before.

I've now resorted to hoping that the other member states start saying they want a better deal too, the whole thing collapses and we end up going back to a simple common market arrangement.

[chicaguapa]

This was on the BBC this evening.

Radek Sikorski, a former foreign minister in Poland, tells the BBC he doesn't want David Cameron at the next summit of EU leaders.

"I wouldn't like to be him at that European Council - because everybody will think that he is to blame because he called an unnecessary referendum. Yes he tried to win it but he tried to win it after decades of unfair criticisms of the EU in his party and under his leadership, and those decades of misinformation to the British public about the EU and how it actually works have now borne fruit."

Obviously pointing this out is unfair criticism of each and every Exiter who researched this properly, don't you know. So we must be careful.

[gunting]

Yep. No idea what the 52% were thinking.

The EU dictatorship leadership rotates every 4 years and it was due to be the UK next year.

[tiredandhungryalways]

The more I read the worse I feel.