In,out,shake it all about,the EU ,what's best to vote.

[Daisyonthegreen]

Nothing on here,or am I wrong,I'm a newbie so be patient with me.
Anyhow here goes it's the Referendum on the European Union on the 23 June this year.
I'm voting Leave.
How's about you guys?

Sovereignty and freedom aren't "meaningless".

I would prefer that our laws are made by the government we elect in our own country and whom we can hold accountable, not unelected beaurocrats who rarely listen to the UK and are following an agenda that isn't for the UK's benefit. That isn't "meaningless", it's democracy.

After a Brexit we'd have the freedoms, none of which are meaningless, to:

• spend taxpayer's money on our NHS, education, research and other services instead of paying Brussels billions of pounds
• form our own trade agreements around the world
• escape the EU tariffs and regulation which make it harder for non-EU nations to trade with us
• make our own decisions about our borders, so we're able to allow more non-EU students and workers with the most useful skills to enter our country
• stop having to bail out the Euro
• stop wasting our time trying to change the EU to something more acceptable to the UK, when realistically that won't happen
• take our own seat at the World Trade Organisation instead of being represented by the EU
• be in a country which is fully our own, instead of a small fraction of the United States of Europe
• maintain control of our own Armed Forces, instead of having to join the EU army Merkel wants

Bob Stewart: NATO should beware of the European Army (conservativehome.com)

I haven't heard any good arguments in favour of staying. It's just repetition of the spin from Cameron, talking about a "reformed" EU, and the catchphrase "stronger, safer and better off", all of which are debatable at best.

Hovercraft,
It's nice to hear I'm not the only one finding the out campaign a hollow collection of gripes and groaned... many with little to do with the EU!

It's interesting that people point out the size of our economy as the 5th largest, whilst in the same post say that the EU is for the bankers and multinationals! I'd be more swayed by an argument referring to standard of living / quality of life. My experience of life in Germany tells me that we are trailing behind in this respect... regardless of local election results.

Putin could just as easily make decisions about gas which affect the EU, as he has done before: Putin threatens to cut gas to Ukraine, EU countries (EU Observer, 10 April 2014)

"He said in a letter sent to 18 European leaders on Thursday (10 April) that “in the event of further violation of the conditions of payment, [Russian firm Gazprom] will completely or partially cease gas deliveries.”"

Were Americans being "xenophobic" when they declared independence from Britain? Is Australia "xenophobic" for having a skilled migration points system? No, of course not. And being pro-Brexit doesn't make anyone xenophobic either. Controlling our own borders doesn't mean they'll be opened or closed for any particular nationality more than any other. And we'd even be free to accept more refugees and economic migrants than we'd have done as EU members, if that's what the British decide.

And you don't think that being part of the largest bargaining bloc in the world might be useful in negotiations?

Project fear again?

As for this Tory government spending all this wonderful money that we're suddenly going to have on the NHS that they've already started to privatise, rather than on tax cuts just before the next election, well, you've got much more confidence in them that I have...

We can vote the Tories out

The genius of Putin, and why Brexit is the best way to deal with him

Hovercraft do you think that all non-EU countries are xenophobic? If not, then surely a non-xenophobic independent Britain is not beyond possibility...!

How easy is it to get rid of the EU establishment compared to changing our government in a general election?

At least the MPs we vote for can actually propose legislation...

The irony is that we'll have less control over our borders if we leave...

You believe the scaremongering from Cameron? Millions would disagree with you.

Opinions of businessmen.
businessforbritain.org/change-or-go/
Well worth reading.

businessforbritain.org/about/

Masses of information on all subjects for anyone wanting to understand the benefits of leaving the EU written by experts and businessmen.

Business for Britain is Independent ,non partisan.A wealth of information lies within the link.

Hovercraft, you're attempting to rubbish the arguments for a Brexit but you're not providing any alternative opinions, analysis or links. You've said you're "looking at facts" but you haven't stated any. What are your unbiased arguments, facts and sources of information, for staying in the EU?