Much of the information about the EU put out by ‘Leave’ campaigners was untrue or misleading. One example of this was about the fishing industry: we were told the fishing boats were destroyed by the EU paying to have the boats burnt.
The truth is that fish stocks had reached danger point of running out due to overfishing so all members of the EU agreed a reduction in the catch over a period of time to allow the stocks to replenish. This would involve a reduction in everyones fishing fleet but compensation would be paid from EU funds.
Without this agreement fishing fleets faced destruction by falling fish stocks.
This agreement has worked well because it was in the common interest of all members, but since opting to ‘Leave’ the possibility of owners of big fleets calling for a return to as much as possible catches brings with it two dangers: the overfishing danger to stocks and the danger of confrontation with others as happened between Iceland and ourselves over cod fishing, which nearly involved gunboats!
This is the reality of misleading information on this issue alone: a closer look at others and the reasons why are needed. The full effects, particularly on working people in leaving the EU, was not talked about but you can bet they will try to make us pay for it, if we let them.
“It is imperative that the UK Government respects those who have exercised their treaty rights and chosen to make a life in Scotland.” – First Minister Nicola SturgeonContinue reading Reassurance sought for EU residents
First Minister hails progress in EU talks but it’s a ‘non’ from France – so much for the Auld Alliance – and Spain
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon held a series of positive meetings with senior figures in Brussels yesterday, but it’s clear there will be many obstacles to overcome if Scotland is to play an active role in Europe following the referendum result.Continue reading Open Doors, Open Minds?
Edinburgh Northern and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson has told EU nationals “you remain welcome here” after Scotland voted overwhelmingly to stay in the European Union last week.Continue reading EUr’e Welcome Here!
‘ … we can turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities. Together, we can make this work.’ – Business Secretary Sajid Javid
The Westminster government is hoping speeches by Business Secretary Sajid Javid and Chancellor George Osborne will calm the international money markets as they open this morning. The pound has plunged since UK voted to leave the European Union, wiping £ trillions off the value of stocks and shares.Continue reading UK government moves to steady markets
Prime Minister is first political casualty of EU Referendum result
Prime Minister David Cameron made a statement in Downing Street following the outcome of the referendum for the UK to leave the European Union:
The country has just taken part in a giant democratic exercise – perhaps the biggest in our history. Over 33 million people – from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar – have all had their say.
We should be proud of the fact that in these islands we trust the people with these big decisions.
We not only have a parliamentary democracy, but on questions about the arrangements for how we are governed, there are times when it is right to ask the people themselves, and that is what we have done.
The British people have voted to leave the European Union and their will must be respected.
I want to thank everyone who took part in the campaign on my side of the argument, including all those who put aside party differences to speak in what they believed was the national interest.
And let me congratulate all those who took part in the Leave campaign – for the spirited and passionate case that they made.
The will of the British people is an instruction that must be delivered. It was not a decision that was taken lightly, not least because so many things were said by so many different organisations about the significance of this decision.
So there can be no doubt about the result.
Across the world people have been watching the choice that Britain has made. I would reassure those markets and investors that Britain’s economy is fundamentally strong.
And I would also reassure Brits living in European countries, and European citizens living here, that there will be no immediate changes in your circumstances. There will be no initial change in the way our people can travel, in the way our goods can move or the way our services can be sold.
We must now prepare for a negotiation with the European Union. This will need to involve the full engagement of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments to ensure that the interests of all parts of our United Kingdom are protected and advanced.
But above all this will require strong, determined and committed leadership.
I am very proud and very honoured to have been Prime Minister of this country for 6 years.
I believe we have made great steps, with more people in work than ever before in our history, with reforms to welfare and education, increasing people’s life chances, building a bigger and stronger society, keeping our promises to the poorest people in the world, and enabling those who love each other to get married whatever their sexuality.
But above all restoring Britain’s economic strength, and I am grateful to everyone who has helped to make that happen.
I have also always believed that we have to confront big decisions – not duck them.
That’s why we delivered the first coalition government in 70 years to bring our economy back from the brink. It’s why we delivered a fair, legal and decisive referendum in Scotland. And why I made the pledge to renegotiate Britain’s position in the European Union and hold a referendum on our membership, and have carried those things out.
I fought this campaign in the only way I know how – which is to say directly and passionately what I think and feel – head, heart and soul.
I held nothing back.
I was absolutely clear about my belief that Britain is stronger, safer and better off inside the European Union, and I made clear the referendum was about this and this alone – not the future of any single politician, including myself.
But the British people have made a very clear decision to take a different path, and as such I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction.
I will do everything I can as Prime Minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months, but I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination.
This is not a decision I have taken lightly, but I do believe it is in the national interest to have a period of stability and then the new leadership required.
There is no need for a precise timetable today, but in my view we should aim to have a new Prime Minister in place by the start of the Conservative party conference in October.
Delivering stability will be important and I will continue in post as Prime Minister with my Cabinet for the next 3 months. The Cabinet will meet on Monday.
The Governor of the Bank of England is making a statement about the steps that the Bank and the Treasury are taking to reassure financial markets. We will also continue taking forward the important legislation that we set before Parliament in the Queen’s Speech. And I have spoken to Her Majesty the Queen this morning to advise her of the steps that I am taking.
A negotiation with the European Union will need to begin under a new Prime Minister, and I think it is right that this new Prime Minister takes the decision about when to trigger Article 50 and start the formal and legal process of leaving the EU.
I will attend the European Council next week to explain the decision the British people have taken and my own decision.
The British people have made a choice. That not only needs to be respected – but those on the losing side of the argument, myself included, should help to make it work.
Britain is a special country.
We have so many great advantages.
A parliamentary democracy where we resolve great issues about our future through peaceful debate.
A great trading nation, with our science and arts, our engineering and our creativity respected the world over.
And while we are not perfect, I do believe we can be a model of a multi-racial, multi-faith democracy, where people can come and make a contribution and rise to the very highest that their talent allows.
Although leaving Europe was not the path I recommended, I am the first to praise our incredible strengths.
I have said before that Britain can survive outside the European Union, and indeed that we could find a way.
Now the decision has been made to leave, we need to find the best way.
And I will do everything I can to help.
I love this country – and I feel honoured to have served it.
And I will do everything I can in future to help this great country succeed.
Disaster, devastation, division – or wonderful opportunity?
Scotland says Stay but Britain says Leave
Britons have voted to leave the European Union. With a handful of regions still to declare it became certain at 6am that the Leave campaign has an unassailable lead with 52% of the vote. The nationwide turnout was 72%.Continue reading We’re Leaving: An uncertain new dawn for Britain
We’ve watched all the debates, read loads of leaflets and heard all the ‘facts’ – most of them contradictory. We’ve listened to the scores of ‘experts’, only to learn that no-one really knows for sure. But now, all the talking’s over – it’s time to make your decision: Remain or Leave.
The voting process itself is really quite straightforward (see the BBC graphic below). But WHAT to vote? Well … that’s up to you!
On Thursday 23 June polling stations across the UK will be open from 7am to 10pm.
In my many letters over many years I have always highlighted social injustices imposed by our own politicians against working people, and urged the need for ordinary people to work together in resisting further attacks.
We have helped, and have been helped, bu all people in the European Union in passing laws:
A maximum 48 hours working week
A minimum break at rest from work between shifts
Four weeks paid annual leave
Paternity Leave
Health & Safety at Work rules
Equal pay for men and women
Making racial and disability discrimination illegal
Clean water supplies and pollution controls
The right to join a trade union or association
And many other benefits
All of these laws were minimum requirements, but could be improved on by individual nations’ own parliaments. Bear in mind it was ALL the member states of the EU who cooperated and agreed these regulations, covering approximately 500 million people.
The main threat posed by those who advocate leaving the EU is to do away with all these laws on social justice and replace them with their own legislation. Why?
Two questions immediately arise:
First, why not improve the existing laws if their intention is to pass better laws – this can be done by any nation in the EU.
And second: Why did they not do it years ago?
When the world is crying out for more cooperation to tackle pressing problems of unemployment, climate change, energy supplies, water and food provision, the depletion of natural resources, those people who want to leave the EU represent the most backward step the UK could take. WHY? And WHO are they?
Tory politicians and others who the UK to leave the EU are extremely vocal about being able to trade as usual after leaving: they know, of course, how many people depend on this trading for their jobs, so seek to assure them.
If this is so, what other reasons do they have for wanting to leave – and more importantly whose interests are they concerned about?
Their main unspoken objective is to abolish all EU regulations dealing with working and social conditions, health and safety regulations and the environment – all of which have been of great benefit to people working in the UK.
On working conditions, for example:
A maximum working week of 48 hours
A minimum break of 11 hours rest between working days
A minimum break of 24 hours from work in seven days, in addition to the daily 11 hours rest
Annual leave entitlement of four weeks minimum
Night work of eight hours maximum in 24 hours
Equal opportunities for women and men
Pregnancy, maternity and parental leave
Prohibition of discrimination on sex, race, religion, disability or sexual orientation grounds
So what do they object to – and why?
These regulations can always be improved by the UK Government; the same applies to health and safety and environmental reguations and others that have been of great benefit to the people of the UK.
But this is not their intention, of course – quite the reverse! This is why they want to get out, while shedding tears over how much they care!
