Ten Christmas Quiz Questions for supporters of UK Withdrawal from the EU

This is an excellent blog post from David Hannay, a very distinguished former British diplomat (our ambassador to the UN among other roles).  Well worth reading!

Foreign Secretary: Brexit would have "very negative impact on the UK"

Conservative Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond - who has a longstanding reputation as a eurosceptic, has said some rather interesting things to the House of Commons Europe scrutiny committee: 

"The exit of a major country, the second-largest economy in the European Union, would have potentially very serious ramifications for the European Union and what its future looked like. But a British exit would also have a very significant impact on the UK.

It would require us to undo decades of thinking about how we drive and power the UK economy, how we ensure the standard of living of British people, how we protect national security.

I am sure, certainly in the short term, it would have some very negative impact on the UK.

How we would be able to regroup and move forward would be something the history books will ultimately determine.

But at the moment it looks like a very big set of challenges that the UK would face"

16 and 17 year olds should have a vote in the referendum!

Neil Carmichael, Conservative MP for Stroud wrote in City AM newspaper yesterday, calling for 16 and 17 year olds to get the vote in the EU referendum.

Neil is the Chairman of the Education Select Committee and also the Conservative Group for Europe.

He says: it's the UK's young people who will be most affected by a Brexit, and that's why the

vote should be extended to 16 and 17-year-olds.

Full article here

West Hampstead survey shows strong support for staying in EU – but many still making up their minds

Local campaigning to keep Britain in Europe will be a mixture of activity within political parties and other groups, and cross-party activity.  Here local Lib Dem campaigner Janet Grauberg reports on a recent – and rather encouraging - survey undertaken by local LibDems:

"Camden Liberal Democrats surveyed West Hampstead residents in October about their views on whether the UK should remain or leave the EU. There was overwhelming support for staying in, with quite a few saying they did not know yet. The main reasons for staying were because Britain being in the EU was good for jobs and business, because it made it easier to travel across borders for work, visiting family or for holidays and because being part of the EU contributed to peace and human rights. The main reasons given for leaving related to border control, control of sovereignty and the costs of the EU contribution. This was a small survey but it was overwhelmingly in support of Britain staying in the EU. We noticed that younger people were more positive about Europe, and there were still a lot of people still making up their mind. We'll be repeating the survey in November (Saturday 28th 11-1230 at outside 156 West End Lane) and over coming months to keep listening to the views of Camden residents". 

Remain     36

Reasons:

Business/Jobs 21

Travel for work/family/holidays 21

Tackling climate change/environment 11

Tackling international crime 5

Peace/Human Rights 21

Workers Rights 8

Farming Subsidies 1

Leave              4

Reasons 

Control borders/reduce immigration 1

Better for business/less regulation 1

Control sovereignty 1

Don't pay expensive EU contribution 1

It's a gravy train for failed politicians

Right to fish in our waters

Don't Know     6

Launch of Camden in Europe - join with us to make the case for Britain Stronger in Europe

We are writing on a cross-party basis to urge people to join us in campaigning in Camden to keep Britain in the European Union in the coming referendum. 

We can’t rehearse all the arguments here, but we believe that the UK should stay in the European Union and work constructively with our neighbours to tackle together the big challenges we cannot sort out at a national level in an increasingly globalised world.  Withdrawal would bring unquantifiable economic and financial risks, and substantial loss of British influence around the world. 

The EU is certainly not perfect, any more than any organisation.  It needs reform, and working together as 28 countries with their cultural, social, economic and institutional traditions, we believe that we can get the EU focused on the right priorities, with more democracy and transparency at EU level, while preserving national and local decision making and diversity.

The process of European integration has fulfilled its original aims of maintaining peace and promoting democracy and co-operation in the continent, and our membership of the EU has contributed greatly to Britain’s - and London’s - prosperity and success, despite all the press scare stories and Euro myths. Since joining in the 1970s, Britain has greatly contributed to the reform of European institutions, the enlargement of the EU, the modernisation of the common market, and the promotion of a competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy. By remaining part of the EU, Britain can further contribute to its development and future reform.

Above all, Europe is about increasing opportunities: opportunities for young people to travel, study and work; for businesses to trade and grow; for better ways of tackling climate change and environmental problems; for combating cross-border crime; for greater freedom and social progress for us all.  And especially in this period, the EU should also be about a coordinated, generous and farsighted response to the unprecedented refugee crisis, and greater support for countries outside the EU suffering from poverty, underdevelopment and war. 

In Camden in particular we rightly celebrate the contribution of our many citizens who have moved here from other EU countries. We all benefit immeasurably from the opportunities to live, work, trade and travel all across our continent that membership of the EU gives us; our culture and society are enriched by the breaking down of artificial barriers.

We know people can feel overwhelmed when faced with conflicting arguments and facts on the EU.  That’s why, as the national campaign to keep Britain in Europe gears up, we intend locally to provide information, to talk to people and to discuss the issues publicly. We don’t think we have all the answers and will value hearing your views.  We also know that in Camden many people have a great deal of knowledge and experience about Europe, and will want a grown-up debate without simplistic slogans.   So have a look at our website – www.camdenineurope.blogspot.co.uk, let us know if you want your name added as a supporter, follow us on twitter at @CamdeninEurope, and get in touch with any of us to see how you can help or feed into the campaign.

We all write in a personal capacity. We hope local people of all parties and none will be enthused to lend their support as the country starts to consider a decision that will be critical to Britain’s future. 

Yours

Cllr Lazzaro Pietragnoli (Labour)
Keith Moffitt (former Liberal Democrat Leader of Camden Council)
Cllr Sian Berry (Green Party mayoral candidate)
Cllr Andrew Marshall (Conservative)