to wonder if people would admit to voting "leave" in the EU Referendum?

[evilcherub]

Apparently there is a lot of inconsistency in answers when pollsters phone people and ask for their decision on Brexit compared to answers given online (respondents are more likely to say they will vote to "remain" on the phone but in online polls say they will vote to "leave"). I wonder if people admitting that they are going to vote "leave" is seen as taboo in the same way that nobody apparently voted for the Tories in the GE . If you are intending to vote "leave" would you admit it to friends and family (especially if you think they are more likely to vote "remain") or are you afraid of being called a Little Englander?

I'm undecided. My gut instinct is that out of the EU and part of the EFTA suits our national temperment better.

As much as I strongly dislike our current government, there is considerably more accountability on them than there is in the European system. In 4 years, we have the power to kick them out and change political direction. Europe is too large and complex to see causes and effects of change.

Economically, we are a strong part of Europe, but politically we very much hang at the edge. I believe that today we are in a stronger position from hanging back and retaining more financial autonomy. Outside the EU, we would still retain the advantage of our location and language as well as traditional strengths such as engineering, so we would still remain internationally desirable for investment and trade.

There are many benefits to the EU, but it is a very complex organisation with too many varying needs for a one size fits all approach.

Never mind saying its daily mail users voting to leave, it seems many mumsnetters are in leave camp. I would like to see some public debates for and against us leaving to ensure we all make a fully informed decision.
I am leaning towards leave, unless going to wholly embrace a one Europe with the same currency, taxation, welfare, culture etc across the countries it isn't going to work.

The rest of Europe doesn't embrace a shared taxation system. I was in Holland this week talking to two Germans who live in Holland. They were explaining that the Dutch give tax breaks for people purchasing homes via mortgage but are trying to discourage buy to let mortgages, whilst in Germany exactly the reverse applies. I asked them if they thougt we'd even harmonise taxation across Europe and theg just laughed.

What I want is to see a pros and cons spreadsheet so that we can see everything clearly. Also a 'this might happen' list.

I want to be aware of all the facts and implication, but no one seems to do this. All we get is the opposing views.

Yesterday I was in, today I am out. I've no doubt I will change my mind tomorrow.

OP
I want to leave but I haven't told anyone IRL yet

There's a range of reasons for me keeping schtum but I'm a Londoner and don't know anyone who wants out (they are keeping quiet if they do)

Partly I can see that people will call me racist

partly the controversy that my parents aren't from the UK - see comments on Twitter etc about Priti Patel being on the Brexit side, look at the C4 drama about a woman with non UK parentage being a UKIP minister - these are the attitudes people have sadly.

partly the fact that 2 people in my circle fear being "sent back" or losing their jobs if we Brexit

partly the stereotype that it is only a raging uneducated DM reading meanie that has concerns about the access we currently have

I agree with a pp who says it's easy not to be concerned if you are in a particular type of job and have a ton of money

one of my closest friends claimed her entire firm was "heartbroken" when the Tories won the election and is also the sort of person who thinks there should be open borders worldwide, she'd do away with passports

something that does concern me is that politicians will negotiate a crappy Brexit deal that actually changes nothing.

I think debating politics with friends can be a killer - I wouldn't lie if someone asked me but I don't plan to say anything if I'm not actually asked. Interestingly I bet there will be an assumption that I will vote to stay in - an assumption entrenched to the point that no one will ask me.

I think your question is really valid OP. It's a big decision to make and I am undecided. DH has said he's going to vote stay. Not sure he'd talk to me for a while after if I voted leave and that actually happened! I think we should forge stronger economic and trade links with The Commonwealth.

Let's hope it is an improvement on Indyref. Anybody who raised the slightest concern about the SNP's hilarious figures was screamed at for "scaremongering".

It was impossible to discuss the issue with the hardened yes voters. I bet they are mighty glad now the no vote prevailed. Scotland would be bankrupt!

Careful now Rooners, you can't go around slagging off the mighty and truthful SNP they know where we live yunno

Roonerspism- One of big fears is we have a Brexit ( which I want) and follow that up with a second Indy ref resulting in Scotland independent and in EU, both of which I really don't want.

I'm a Scot and I'll be voting to leave just to balance out the apparent large numbers of SNP people voting to stay purely to hopefully trigger Indy2 if UK votes to leave.

I know it's wrong but I'm amazed at the number posting on SNP FB page that they want to leave the EU but will be voting stay just to start off the whole independence nightmare again so like them, I'm voting tactically.

So if Wales and Scotland are 'in' their population is too small in comparion to England to upset the applecart (even if the majority in the devolved nations vote to stay in)

sorry not read the full thread in case anyone made the same point.

twooter I agree and this is also my fear. But surely - surely - no one in their right mind could still want an independent Scotland?! Surely sense would have to prevail.

I had to laugh at Nicola Sturgeon in today's Times asserting there must be no "scaremongering". I nearly wet myself

no one in their right mind could still want an independent Scotland?!
This kind of assertion is what damages political debate.

why? The only thing that amazes me is that the SNP's record on anything isn't demolished more by the media.

Their White Paper was laughable. Even more so with what has happened to oil prices. I would question the sanity of anyone who still think Scottish independence is a good idea, yes. How could anyone think otherwise?!?!

would question the sanity of anyone who still think Scottish independence is a good idea, yes

It's a legitimately held view and aim of a significant minority in Scotland. It's a valid democratic objective. Just because you don't agree isn't a an excuse to question people's sanity and the fact that you do cheapens the debate imho - we need a grown up exchange, not people dismissing widely held views as insane.

We were talking about this at work.

The colleagues in my particular sector were no on the Scottish referendum and are yes to staying in the EU. It would be funny ( in a if you don't laugh you'd cry way) if overall vote was to stay but in Scotland it was to leave.

I'd love to see Sturgeon and Salmond wriggle explaining that.

I'm sorry, but trying to bankrupt Scotland is not the action of a sane person. Might have been excusable last year but not now.

I would really question the level of intellect of such a person.

for me it has to be stay. Most if not all of our working directives have come from the EU, I don't relish going back to non minimum wages and extended working hours and reduced employment rights. maternity leave, paternity leave etc would not be so generous if we were out, I worry about the human rights of migrants and immigrants if we were out. remember it works both ways, brits abroad too will lose out. There is also a lot of scaremongering about refugee and asylum seekers that will cloud peoples judgement, Cameron wants to cut benefits and support to people which many people who want to keep immigrants out of uk will support. personally i thank my lucky stars that I live somewhere safe and don't have to flee from persecution with my family and would dread facing the attitudes of hostile countries who cant welcome people from unstable countries, if I had the confidence of my government to make good decisions to protect my rights then maybe I would think about an out vote but truly I have no faith in a tory government to do any good for the population as a whole, I believe they will protect the rich at the expense of the poor.

Only just got back to thread. Fontanelle, please let others have different views to yourself without resorting to " utter bollocks" comments.
I have read both sides and there are clearly arguments for and against but IMO Grant Thornton makes a compelling argument as to why foreign investors and companies could leave the UK if we left the EU.
Everyone can have an opinion snd let s keep it "in good spirits"

I'm curious to see how it pans out in my industry Lass. On Indyref it was very strongly of the "oh fuck no" variety, but I'm not so sure where people stand with EU.

I really hope it doesn't trigger another Indyref though. At the moment I don't think Sturgeon would be inclined to try as with oil prices the way they are I think it would be a real struggle to come up with figures to support it. There was a lot of nonsense in the White Paper anyway (believe me I know!), but the oil numbers were a huge "pro" for some people. But I found the period around the referendum to be pretty horrible and I think Scotland needs a break from it.

I'm voting to leave. It's not a crime to want some national control back. Old EEC, maybe, this current grotesquely expanded nightmare. No.

Boris is 'out'

All hail our next pm.

Out of Europe obviously (not the closet) :)

woodfordfunds.com/insight/brexit-economic-implications/

Article and discussion/comments on brexit and economic implications.

I'm studying in an EU country. The fact that so many here want to leave the EU just forced me to do some rapid, terrifying research into whether I'd be forced to leave my course if the UK leaves. Turns out that I wouldn't, but only because I'm on a specific residence permit which has nothing to do with EU residence. Had I not been, Brexit would have triggered a very frantic attempt to apply for this specific permit, the requirements of which just changed and which I would no longer meet, and I would be priced out of my education and desired career. And would go back to the original plan of forever working in fast food due to not having qualifications appropriate for much else in this country. Hoorah.

Bet they'll fudge it so I can't even vote in the referendum too, like they did for so many Brits living abroad at the last general election.