Quote:
Originally Posted by 57 On Red
The biggest thing that motivates voters to a 'Leave' view is control of our own borders. It's essentially an anti-immigration line.
The problem is that we would remain an attractive destination for immigrants because we're a relatively sane country under a decent rule of law, and we'd have to renegotiate all our trade and travel agreements with the EU (which of course would still have to be mutual) and we don't know how that would work out.
The argument against leaving often focuses on Norway, which is not in the EU but, in order to sustain workable trade and travel agreements, has to abide by EU law and even pay into the EU anyway, only without any say in the EU parliament or commission.
Globalisation probably means you can't pull up the drawbridge any more, because you aren't in a castle and there's no drawbridge.
It's not "essentially an anti-immigration line", for everyone although obviously it is for some.
I once dated a Polish girl who was educated to MSc level and spent her first 5 years here working in a warehouse (In the warehouse, not the offices). Given a straight choice, I'd rather that job be given to someone from Syria, but economic migration *prevents* us from taking that option.
But yes, you can also argue that she might have beaten a British national with a family to support who hadn't worked for a year to that job, for which she was vastly overqualified. Of course, lots of 24yo Polish graduates is good for the economy, but not necessarily the most fair when they are happy to take unskilled jobs which are obviously more suitable for unskilled people, or a Syrian with a family to support currently living in a tent.
Norway pays the EU £200m a year, so 2% of the current net UK contribution.