If they work and pay tax I don't have a problem. What I have a problem with is EU judges over ruling our own courts. The total lack of democracy. The EU parliament only gets to vote on things sent there by the unelected EU commission.
The EU started out as a free trade zone, and in my opinion it should have started that way.

i agree
all we need is to freely trade with the EU and the rest of the world
human rights law is now part of British law so our courts should have the last say

and i don’t mind who i vote for as long as its a vote to get out of the EU ...

+1

Unlikely. Entrenched voting behaviours mean that while UKIP may gain a few seats in a general election, they'll be unable to manufacture a big enough swing (at least in our lifetimes) to become anything approaching a government, even as part of a coalition. And while Cameron may promise a referendum, the fact he's delayed it until after the next election suggests it's a promise he has absolutely no intention of keeping. It's a bone thrown to the tory voters/members UKIP may attract to try to keep them onboard with him.

We didn't get a vote to become a member of the EU. Why on earth would they let us have a vote to leave?

Well the Tories are talking about a referendum if they win the next election, so I could vote for them.

They've been talking about it since before the last election.

Of course there was a vote.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kin ... ndum,_1975

How many people here were born then?
I know I wasn't?
Actually, how many people here were old enough to vote then?

I was not old enough to vote but I would not be opposed to staying in the EU. In many ways the EU can look after our private interests better than our government. Our government is far too cosy with evil businesses. They would sign away our rights fast if they could get away with it. The EU parliament has protected our rights far more than most appreciate. As for leaving the EU it will not create more jobs for the brits as the europeans are deported. Many of the jobs that are done by immigrants are those that the locals do not want anyway. What will the government do when these jobs are not filled by locals? So I would vote to stay in the EU.

That was not a vote on the EU. That was a vote on an effectively different organisation, with different rules and a different membership. And it was nearly 50 years ago. The idea that that counts as a democratic mandate for what now exists is, frankly, laughable. I'm actually pro-EU but I recognise we've never actually had a direct say on it one way or the other. And anyone who thinks we ever will is naive bordering on stupid.

Also : David Cameron has not promised a referendum on leaving the EU. He has promised 'a renegotiation on our relationship with Europe'. Last time I checked, a negotiation requires both sides to agree. Hands up anyone who thinks the rest of Europe will be happy to let us quit the EU and give up all the responsibilities but still keep most of the privileges of membership?

I do agree that the EU has changed in style and composition. There are things that should change, though it does not help when you have xenophobia dominating the debate. Also should Big D get a vote as he could be repatriated under a bad split? What will we do with all the ex pats who get the boot and return? While we can use the EU to get shot of people like Big D we get polish plumbers in exchange. Some might consider that a price worth paying.

There's plenty of stuff for which there is no specific recent democratic mandate. You were born in the United Kingdom, it was never voted on and being English you aren't likely to get a vote on leaving it any time soon. You never voted for there to be a police force, or compulsory education nor any of the taxes you pay. All of those things, and countless others, have changed massively since their introduction.

As for Cameron's thing. He might have a decent opportunity to get more of his way than he really has any right to. The EU constitution is creaking and needs an update. Every obstreperous special interest group will have to be bought off, quite possibly including us.

The ideal scenareo IMO is we stay in the free trade zone, but come out of the EU. A bit like Norway.

You would not be in a position to complain about any other Tory policies enacted then. Voting on one single issue is misguided.

The problem is that when they make up the rules being outside means we have absolutely no say in their constitution or effect, but still have to abide by them if we want to trade with them.